Low-dose GnRH antagonist protocol is as effective as the long GnRH agonist protocol in unselected patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
OBJECTIVE
The present retrospective and controlled comparative study was designed to evaluate the pregnancy rate achieved using a modified, fixed, multiple-dose 0.125mg gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol with the long GnRH agonist protocol as the control group.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty unselected women between 30 and 40 years of age, in their first cycle of IVF/ICSI, with a baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) <10 IU and an antral follicle count >3 were assigned into two groups: (1) the study group received 0.125mg of cetrorelix daily starting on Day 6 of stimulation; and (2) the control group received leuprolide daily starting in the mid-luteal phase of the preceding cycle. Both groups were given a flexible dose of recombinant FSH for stimulation. An ongoing pregnancy rate of more than 12 weeks was the primary outcome measure of the study.


RESULTS
Primary and secondary outcomes were comparable in both groups. A shorter duration of stimulation, a lower dosage of recombinant FSH consumption and a thinner endometrium on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration were all observed in the GnRH antagonist group.


CONCLUSIONS
A dosage of 0.125mg GnRH antagonist protocol was effective for these unselected patients during IVF/ET.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Shang-Yu
SY
Huang
Hong-Yuan
HY
Huang
Hsing-Tse
HT
Yu
Hsin-Shin
HS
Wang
Chun-Kai
CK
Chen
Chyi-Long
CL
Lee
Yung-Kuei
YK
Soong
D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000819:agonists / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D016729:Leuprolide; C062876:cetrorelix