Substituting HCG with GnRH agonist to trigger final follicular maturation--a retrospective comparison of three different ovarian stimulation protocols

Reprod Biomed Online. 2006 Aug;13(2):198-201. doi: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60615-3.

Abstract

The study retrospectively evaluated the influence of triggering final oocyte maturation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist on the outcome of IVF cycles. Four hundred and sixty consecutive women admitted to the IVF unit during a 4-year period were enrolled in the study. Ovarian stimulation characteristics and clinical pregnancy rate were compared between three groups: patients at risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), undergoing either the long GnRH-agonist protocol (agonist group) or the flexible multidose GnRH-antagonist protocol who received GnRH-agonist for final oocyte maturation (antagonist-agonist group); and patients not at risk of developing severe OHSS undergoing the flexible multidose GnRH-antagonist protocol who received human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) for final oocyte maturation (antagonist-HCG group). Implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were lowest in the antagonist-agonist group despite the fact that no difference were was observed in fertilization rates between the groups. Moreover, the high-responder antagonist-agonist group required shorter stimulation and had higher numbers of oocytes retrieved as compared with the high-responder agonist-group. No case of severe OHSS was observed in the antagonist-agonist group. The use of flexible multidose GnRH-antagonist protocol with GnRH-agonist for final oocyte maturation, in high-responder patients, eliminates the risk of OHSS but results in decreased implantation and pregnancy rates.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / therapeutic use*
  • Embryo Implantation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Fertility Agents, Female / therapeutic use*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / agonists*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / drug therapy*
  • Oocytes / drug effects
  • Oocytes / growth & development
  • Ovarian Follicle / drug effects*
  • Ovarian Follicle / growth & development
  • Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / complications
  • Ovulation Induction / adverse effects
  • Ovulation Induction / methods*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Fertility Agents, Female
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone