title: [Prospective randomised study of long versus short agonist protocol with poor responder patients during in vitro fertilization].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Different ovarian stimulation protocols are used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in "poor responder" patients. Our work aims at comparing two ovarian stimulation protocols (long agonist half-dose protocol versus short agonist protocol without pretreatment) in this population of women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, randomized study was realized at the University Hospital of Saint-Étienne and concerns "poor responder" patients (age between 38 and 42 years and FSH at day 3 more than 9.5 IU/L; and/or antral follicles count less or equal to 6; and/or failure of previous stimulation). The primary endpoint is based on the number of oocytes retrieved at the end of an IVF cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 44 patients randomized, 39 cycles were taken into account (20 in the long protocol, 19 in the short one). At the end of the stimulation (FSH-r 300 to 450 UI/d), the number of follicles recruited appears higher in the long protocol but the difference is not significant (diameter between 14 and 18 mm: 3.0±2.31 vs. 1.88±1.89 and diameter greater than 18 mm: 3.9±2 85 vs. 3.06±2.77). The same tendency is observed for all the following criteria: the number of retrieved oocytes (6.74±2.73 vs. 6.38±4.26), the total number of embryos (3.16±2.03 vs. 2.25±2.11), the pregnancy rate per retrieval (21% vs. 19%) and per cycle (20% vs. 16%), and the number of children born alive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study did not reveal any difference between the two protocols but the long half-dose seems to be better.
authors.affiliation: Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, université Jean-Monnet, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 42055 Saint-Étienne cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chatillon-Boissier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genod
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Denis-Belicard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Felloni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chene
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seffert
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chauleur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
chemical_list: D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone