Bibliometric and Visual Analysis of the Research Status and Knowledge Structure of Assisted Reproductive Therapy for Patients with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.

Objective: A large proportion of patients undergoing assisted reproductive therapy (ART) suffer from premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). The knowledge structure, research hotspots, and research trends related to ART for patients with POI are still unclear and have not been systematically summarized. We aimed to analyze the research status of ART for patients with POI and deeply explore its knowledge structure and research trends. Our findings may provide treatment recommendations for clinicians and guidance for researchers in further research.

Methods: The PubMed database for publications on ART for patients with POI was searched. The Bibliographic Item Co-occurrence Matrix Builder (BICOMB) obtained the Co-word matrix and co-occurrence matrix. The H-index method was used to extract high-frequency main Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms/subheadings. Then we used software such as graphical clustering toolkit (gCluto), Microsoft Excel, Ucinet and NetDraw to carry out the biclustering analysis, strategic diagram analysis and social network analysis of the major MeSH terms/subheadings.

Results: The high-frequency major MeSH terms/subheadings were analyzed by biclustering, strategic diagram, and social network analyses. A total of 431 articles from 1983 to 2023 were retrieved. Analysis showed that a total of 176 journals published relevant papers, including FERTILITY AND STERILITY, ranking first. In addition, we extracted 20 high-frequency major MeSH terms/subheadings. We grouped them into five categories: cryopreservation of oocyte and ovarian tissue, oocyte donation, in vitro activation (IVA) of primordial follicles, overview of therapy for patients with POI, therapy of iatrogenic POI. Within these five categories, there were 4, 4, 3, 4, and 5 major MeSH terms/subheadings, respectively. The major MeSH terms/subheadings were evenly distributed, and no particular group had a particular central tendency.

Conclusion: The therapy of Iatrogenic POI is in the core position of research and is becoming increasingly mature. Oocyte donation and IVA of primordial follicles are the trends of future research. This study is helpful to understand the current research status, knowledge structure, and research trends of ART for patients with POI, and provide reference for improving ART for patients with POI in the future. Our study may guide clinicians to apply more established research to treat patients, which may lead to better treatment outcomes for patients. At the same time, we also suggest that researchers can conduct research in the field of future research trends, which may lead to greater research results.