title: Clinical and endocrine effects of a microdose GnRH agonist flare regimen administered to poor responders who are undergoing in vitro fertilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the endocrine and clinical responses to microdose GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) that was administered in the early follicular phase before controlled ovarian hyperstimulation to poor responders who were candidates for IVF-ET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective nonrandomized trial with historical controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care university-affiliated infertility practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four IVF-ET candidates with a prior poor response to a standard long-protocol GnRH-a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation regimen (cycle A). Patients were divided into two groups based on their age at the initiation of cycle A (Group 1: < or = 39 years, n = 15; Group 2: > or = 40 years, n = 19).
  
  
  METHODS
  Low-dose oral contraceptive (x 21 d) followed by GnRH-a (leuprolide acetate; 40 micrograms s.c. b.i.d.) flare and urofollitropin initiated on day 3 of GnRH-a administration (cycle B).
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative analysis of clinical responses (total urofollitropin dose used and number of oocytes retrieved as well as fertilization and clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates) and endocrine responses (serum E2, FSH, LH, T, and P levels) between cycles A and B in the two groups. Early follicular phase serum E2 and FSH changes in groups 1 and 2 were compared with changes in nine normal responder controls who were receiving a standard long-protocol GnRH-a/urofollitropin regimen (group 3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximal E2 levels as well as clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates were higher in cycle B patients receiving microdose GnRH-a. Cancellation rates in cycle B were lower than in cycle A. Statistically significant increases in treatment day 6 serum FSH levels were noted during cycle B in both groups 1 and 2 but not in group 3 controls. No abnormal rises in LH, P, or T were noted in any of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microdose GnRH-a enhances urofollitropin response and clinical outcome in poor responders undergoing IVF-ET. This may be due to enhanced release of early follicular phase endogenous FSH without concomitant deleterious rises in androgen levels or corpus luteum rescue.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Associates, Beverly Hills, California, USA.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Surrey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Surrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide