Hypothalamic-pituitary suppression with oral contraceptive pills does not improve outcome in poor responder patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare the use of OCP with GnRHa for hypothalamic-pituitary suppression in poor responder IVF patients.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of IVF-ET cycles of poor responders. Hypothalamic-pituitary suppression with OCP (Group I, n = 29) or GnRHa (Group II, n = 52), followed by stimulation with gonadotropin, oocyte retrieval, and embryo transfer. Baseline characteristics and cycle outcomes were compared.


RESULTS
73 women underwent 81 cycles from 1/1/1999 to 1/1/2000. Baseline characteristics were similar. 31/81 (38%) cycles were cancelled (Group I, 14/29 (48%) vs. Group II, 17/52 (33%), NS). Cycle outcomes including amount of gonadotropin, number of eggs retrieved, number of embryos transferred, and embryo quality were similar. Patients in Group I required fewer days of stimulation to reach oocyte retrieval. Pregnancy outcomes were similar in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our retrospective analysis revealed no improvement in IVF cycle outcomes in poor responders who received OCPs to achieve hypothalamic-pituitary suppression instead of GnRHa.
Kovacs
P
P
Department of OB/GYN, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Mazer Bldg. Rm. 316, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Barg
P E
PE
Witt
B R
BR
D000328:Adult; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus; D007247:Infertility, Female; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D010902:Pituitary Gland; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone