Analysis of the relationship between duration of ovarian stimulation and pregnancy rates in IVF patients (original) (raw)

The aim of this study was to assess ignoring of the GnRH antagonists on the day of hCG effect the pregnancy and live birth rate during GnRH-antagonist protocol. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 209 eligible IVF cycles in 188 women who underwent gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocols were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the administration of the GnRH antagonists until the day of hCG (Group A, 135 cycles) or abandoning on the day of hCG (Group B, 74 cycles). The differences between Group A and Group B were tested by Student's t test or Mann Whitney U test. Pearson Chi-square test was applied for categorical comparisons. RESULTS: No differences were found in peak serum estradiol levels, serum progesterone levels, endometrial thickness on the day of hCG, number of oocytes retrieved and number of mature (MII) oocytes among the groups. Total doses of gonadotropins used was less in Group B (1945.1AE942.9 IU) than Group A (2551.8AE1432.8 IU) (p<0.05). No significant differences were found regarding fertilization rates between the groups. The number of Grade A embryos (2.01AE0.7, 1.41AE0.5; p<0.05), rate of blastocyst (63.26AE23.2, 41.57AE20.7; p<0.05) and the number of transferred embryos (2.3AE0.7, 1.4AE0.5; p<0.05) were higher in Group B compared to group A. Although implantation rates were less in Group B (14%) compared to Group A (28%) (p<0.05), clinical pregnancy rates (Group A: 33%, Group B: 30%) and live birth rates (Group A: 26%, Group B 26%) were similar between the groups (p>0.05) whereas no significant differences were found regarding cancellation rates between the groups (10%,12%;p>0.05). CONCLUSION: During a flexible multiple-dose GnRH antagonist protocol, abandoning of the GnRH antagonist on the day of hCG administration does not compromise IVF results in terms of clinical pregnancy and live birth rates.