title: Embryonic early-cleavage rate is decreased with aging in GnRH agonist but not inantagonist protocols.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between embryonic early-cleavage status and the age of patients receiving either a GnRH agonist long protocol or a GnRH antagonist protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included 534 patients undergoing a fresh cycle of oocyte retrieval and day-3 embryo transfer. Of the 534 patients treated, 331 received a GnRH agonist long stimulation protocol (GnRH agonist group) for ovarian stimulation and 203 patients received a GnRH antagonist protocol (GnRH antagonist group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  By logistic regression analysis, the rate of embryonic early-cleavage was significantly decreased with increasing age of women in the agonist (P < 0.001) but not in antagonist groups (P = 0.61). Based on the results of this study, maternal age is a critical factor for embryonic early-cleavage in agonist protocol but not in antagonist protocol. The results also showed that early-cleavage embryos were of better quality and resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than late-cleavage embryos in the GnRH agonist group. However, embryo quality and pregnancy rate was not significantly different between early and late cleavage embryos in the GnRH antagonist group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that embryonic early-cleavage status is negatively correlated with aging in women receiving GnRH agonist long down-regulation but not in GnRH antagonist protocols. We also conclude that early cleavage of the zygote is not a reliable predictor for pregnancy potential using the GnRH antagonist protocol.
authors: Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Ton-YenGeneral Hospital, Hshinchu, Taiwan.
authors: Wen-Jui
authors: WJ
authors: Yang
authors: Yu-Chyi
authors: YC
authors: Hwang
authors: Chih-Sheng
authors: CS
authors: Lin
authors: Yuh-Ming
authors: YM
authors: Hwu
authors: Robert Kuo-Kuang
authors: RK
authors: Lee
authors: Shun-Yu
authors: SY
authors: Hsiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone