A comparative study of three ovulation induction protocols in polycystic ovarian disease patients in an in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer program.
OBJECTIVE
This study compares the results of three ovulation induction protocols in polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) patients undergoing an in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program. A total of 85 cycles was studied. The patients were treated with clomiphene citrate (CC) plus human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) (CC/hMG group), with purified menofollitropin (pFSH) plus hMG (pFSH/hMG group), and with pFSH/hMG plus gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a) (analogue group). In the analogue group the suppression of luteinizing hormone (LH) with GnRH-a decreased the number of follicles < 12 mm on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and the number and percentage of immature oocytes retrieved and increased the percentage of mature oocytes retrieved.


RESULTS
However, fertilization rates of oocytes, cleaved embryo rates, pregnancy rates following replacement, and pregnancy outcomes were not different.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis with GnRH-a in PCOD patients improved follicular synchrony and oocyte maturity, none of the ovulation induction protocols was superior to the others with respect to pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcomes.
Turhan
N O
NO
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena, Italy.
Artini
P G
PG
D'Ambrogio
G
G
Droghini
F
F
Battaglia
C
C
Genazzani
A D
AD
Volpe
A
A
Genazzani
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000187:drug effects; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome