title: The effect of GnRH analogues for pituitary suppression on ovarian response in repeated ovarian stimulation cycles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian stimulation is employed in assisted reproduction techniques in order to obtain as many oocytes as possible. The early rise in oestradiol levels may lead to the premature end of the respective cycle. In order to avoid such an effect, pituitary suppression has been employed. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether maintenance or replacement of the type of GnRH analogue (i.e., agonist or antagonist) employed for pituitary suppression in the consecutive intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle would negatively influence oocyte quality and ICSI outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational study was conducted including 181 women with primary infertility. Patients were divided into four different groups according to the GnRH analogue used for pituitary suppression in the first and consecutive cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When a GnRH agonist was employed for pituitary suppression in the first cycle, the consecutive cycle showed comparable outcomes when performed with either a GnRH agonist or a GnRH antagonist. When the first cycle was performed with a GnRH antagonist, the use of the GnRH agonist in the successive cycle led to an increased number of oocytes retrieved (7.5% vs. 10.3%, p = 0.032) and the production of a higher number of embryos (4.5% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When the first cycle is carried out with a GnRH antagonist, the use of a GnRH agonist in the successive cycle would lead to increased numbers of oocytes collected and embryos produced.
authors.affiliation: Women's Health Reference Center, Hospital Perola Byington, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavagna
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paes de Almeida Ferreira Braga
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biaggioni Lopes
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Cássia Savio Figueira
authors.forename: Assumpto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iaconelli
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borges