Programming in vitro fertilization for a 5- or 3-day week.
OBJECTIVE
To schedule oocyte retrievals on either 5 or 3 days per week in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.


METHODS
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration was delayed by at least 24 hours in patients undergoing superovulation to avoid egg collections on weekends (group 1). Encouraged by the results, a further prospective study in which oocyte retrievals were programmed for only 3 days a week was undertaken (group 2).


METHODS
Hammersmith Hospital, a tertiary referral unit.


METHODS
All patients undergoing IVF treatment were included.


METHODS
To schedule oocyte retrievals on either 5 or 3 days per week.


RESULTS
Only 4.0% of egg collections (12/303) occurred on weekends compared with 12.6% (22/175) before delaying hCG. In group 2 (n = 215), only four egg collections (2.1%) had to be performed out of schedule. Delaying administration of hCG had no detrimental effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed administration of hCG allows scheduling oocyte retrievals on either 5 or 3 days per week, leading to a substantial decrease in out-of-hours oocyte retrievals, reducing cycle costs, and facilitating efficiency. The method is applicable to assisted reproduction specialized units as well as district general hospitals that use gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs in their superovulation regimens before IVF, gamete intrafallopian transfer, or intrauterine insemination.
Dimitry
E S
ES
Institute of Obsetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Bates
S A
SA
Oskarsson
T
T
Margara
R
R
Winston
R M
RM
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013480:Superovulation; D013997:Time Factors
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin