A flexible protocol for artificial preparation of the endometrium without prior gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist suppression in women with functioning ovaries undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience with a flexible and convenient protocol for artificial endometrial preparation without prior GnRH agonist suppression in patients with functioning ovaries undergoing frozen ET. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: An IVF unit in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): All patients who underwent IVF with embryo cryopreservation from December 1997 to June 1998 and requested transfer of their frozen-thawed embryos. INTERVENTION(S): Controlled endometrial preparation for ET entailed the use of a fixed dose of 6 mg/d of micronized E2 started on day 1 of the cycle, followed by concomitant administration of micronized P placed in the vagina. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Hormonal and endometrial profiles throughout the cycle, pregnancy rate per ET, implantation rate, and pregnancy outcome. RESULT(S): Of 185 treatment cycles in 140 patients, 8 cycles (4.3%) were canceled. In another 2 cycles, no embryos were suitable for transfer. For the remaining 175 ET cycles, the calculated pregnancy rate and implantation rate were 21.7% and 9%, respectively. The proliferative phase could be extended up to 20 days but was a mean (+/-SD) of 15+/-1.9 days. CONCLUSION(S): For patients with functioning ovaries, controlled endometrial preparation for the transfer of frozen-thawed embryos can be done successfully by using oral E2 from day 1 of the cycle followed by P preparation. Prior suppression with GnRH agonist is not necessary.     

降调节联合人工周期方案在冻融胚胎移植周期中的应用

目的:探讨降调节联合人工周期方案对冻融胚胎移植助孕周期临床妊娠结局的影响。方法:收集到行冻融胚胎移植助孕治疗的297个周期,按不同内膜准备方案分组,133例降调节联合人工周期为降调节组,164例行单纯人工周期为人工周期组进行比较分析,同时对部分2种方案均实施过的同一患者进行自身对照分析,并对影响降调节联合人工周期的妊娠结局进行多因素回归分析。结果:患者的年龄、不孕年限、基础FSH、体质量指数(BMI)、内膜厚度、移植胚胎数、优质胚胎数、优质胚胎率、多胎率、异位妊娠率、早期流产率组间均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。降调节组的临床妊娠率、胚胎着床率分别为42.11%(56/133)、24.32%(81/333),显著高于人工周期组的29.88%(49/164)、13.83%(52/376),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。自身对照分析显示患者的内膜厚度、优质胚胎率均无统计学差异(P>0.05),但降调节联合人工周期的临床妊娠率[52.17%(24/46)]显著高于单纯人工周期的[13.04%(6/46)],差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。另外,Logistic回归分析显示,优质胚胎数、手术史可影响妊娠结局。结论:在临床上,对于既往有盆腔手术史、多次冻融周期助孕失败史的患者,可试行降调节联合人工周期方案进行助孕。     

薄型子宫内膜新鲜胚胎和冻融胚胎移植妊娠结局比较

目的探讨在薄型子宫内膜患者中新鲜胚胎移植与冻融胚胎移植(FET)妊娠结局的差异。方法回顾性分析接受体外受精/卵胞质内单精子显微注射-胚胎移植(IVF/ICSI-ET)治疗采用长方案胚胎移植h CG注射日与冻融周期胚胎移植内膜转化日的内膜厚度≤7 mm的患者共592个周期的临床资料。将移植周期按胚胎是否冻融分为新鲜胚胎移植组(n=173)和FET组(n=419)。比较组间的胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率、流产率、多胎率和异位妊娠率有无差异。结果新鲜胚胎移植组患者平均移植胚胎(2.1±0.4)枚,与FET组患者平均移植胚胎(2.1±0.5)枚比较,组间有统计学差异(P0.05);按照移植胚胎数分为3个亚组,新鲜胚胎移植组1枚胚胎者,妊娠率为7.7%,2枚者为30.2%,3枚者为23.8%;FET组1枚胚胎者15.6%,2枚者为34.9%,3枚者为41.6%,新鲜胚胎移植组与FET组间差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。组间着床率、流产率、异位妊娠率等结果也均无统计学差异(P0.05)。移植3枚胚胎新鲜组多胎率(80.0%)高于FET组(29.7%)(P0.05)。新鲜胚胎移植组多胎率3个亚组间有统计学差异(P0.05),FET组妊娠率和流产率3个亚组间均有统计学差异(P0.05)。将移植胚胎数作为协变量,纳入Logistics回归模型对结果变量进行分析,说明周期类型与临床妊娠率间无显著相关性(OR=0.726,95%CI=0.504~1.104)。结论子宫内膜厚度≤7 mm的薄型内膜患者新鲜胚胎移植和FET妊娠结局相似,选择新鲜周期移植不影响妊娠结局并可缩短治疗周期,降低总费用。     

无GnRH-a降调激素替代和hMG促排作子宫内膜准备对冻融胚胎移植影响的研究

目的:研究以无GnRH-a降调激素替代作为子宫内膜准备方式对冻融胚胎移植(FET)临床妊娠率和胚胎植入率的影响。方法:对我中心进行的88个以无GnRH-a降调激素替代(A组)和hMG促排(B组)两种方法进行子宫内膜准备的FET周期进行回顾性分析,比较组间移植日子宫内膜厚度以及临床妊娠率、胚胎植入率的差异。结果:A组32个周期,共移植91枚胚胎,胚胎植入率13.19%,临床妊娠率31.25%(10/32);B组56周期,共移植156枚胚胎,胚胎植入率15.48%,临床妊娠率32.14%(18/56)。两组移植日子宫内膜厚度、临床妊娠率和胚胎植入率等方面均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:无GnRH-a降调激素替代、hMG促排作为FET子宫内膜的准备方式,得到的FET临床妊娠率和胚胎植入率无差异。     

不同内膜准备方案在冻融胚胎移植中的应用

目的:探讨不同内膜准备方案在冷冻胚胎复融移植中的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析了2011年5月至2011年12月在河南省人民医院行冻融胚胎移植的532个周期,根据内膜准备方案分为:自然周期组(97例),补佳乐人工周期组(286例),芬吗通人工周期组(39例),补佳乐联合芬吗通人工周期组(110例)。比较各组患者年龄、不孕年限、转化日内膜厚度、平均移植胚胎个数、冷冻胚胎复苏率、复苏后全部存活胚胎比率,部分存活胚胎比率、种植率、临床妊娠率、早期流产率及异位妊娠率的差异。结果:自然周期组内膜转化日内膜最厚(10.62±1.99)mm,芬吗通组内膜最薄(7.95±0.97)mm,但无统计学差异;芬吗通组临床妊娠率最低(48.72%),自然周期组早期流产率最低(5.26%),但与其他各组相比亦无统计学差异;各组间其他各项指标比较均无统计学差异。结论:冻融胚胎移植中行人工周期内膜准备,尤其是内膜偏薄者,使用芬吗通可获得与自然周期内膜准备相似的结果。     

Agonist long protocol improves outcomes of vitrified-warmed embryo transfer in repeatedly thin endometrium

Research questionDoes follicular stimulation using human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) after pituitary down-regulation by a GnRH agonist improve endometrial thickness (EMT) and clinical outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET; using vitrified-warmed embryos) in women with thin endometrium after intensified oestrogen administration (IOA)?DesignThis was a retrospective study. A total of 627 patients attempted 683 FET cycles with at least one previous history of thin endometrium. None of the cycles reached over 7 mm EMT after using oral and vaginal oestradiol for more than 21 days (IOA protocol). A total of 129 cycles proceeded with FET, 305 cycles were cancelled, and 249 cycles involved administration of HMG following GnRH agonist pituitary down-regulation (GnRH agonist + HMG protocol) for further endometrial preparation.ResultsEMT became significantly greater (7.18 ± 1.14 mm versus 6.13 ± 0.63 mm, P < 0.001) using GnRH agonist + HMG compared with previous IOA cycles, but this was not related to serum oestrogen concentrations. A total of 213 cycles after the GnRH agonist + HMG protocol proceeded with FET, showing a significantly increased clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate and live birth rate compared with those after IOA.ConclusionsThe GnRH agonist + HMG protocol for endometrial preparation in FET cycles improves EMT in women with a thin endometrium after IOA and showed significantly better clinical outcomes than IOA. The authors suggest that the GnRH agonist + HMG protocol should be used for EMT that is less than 7 mm after there has been no optimal response to IOA.     

Comparison of cryopreservation outcome with human pronuclear stage oocytes obtained by the GnRH antagonist, cetrorelix, and GnRH agonists

This retrospective study was performed to examine the implantation and pregnancy rates of frozen-thawed pronuclear stage oocytes obtained with the use of a GnRH antagonist, Cetrorelix (Cetrotide((R)) ASTA-Medica, Frankfurt/M, Germany) used in a multidose protocol with hMG, and to compare these results with those obtained after a conventional long GnRH analogue protocol (Decapeptyl-Depot, Ferring, Kiel, Germany). The study population consisted of 31 infertile couples with frozen-thawed pronuclear stage oocytes after ICSI treatment using the GnRH antagonist Cetrorelix (Cetrorelix((R))) and 31 infertile couples with frozen-thawed pronuclear stage oocytes after ICSI treatment using the long GnRH analogue protocol. Patients underwent ICSI after down regulation with a GnRH agonist (Decapeptyl) and stimulation with hMG, or a GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) and hMG. The supernumerary pronuclear stage oocytes were cryopreserved and transferred in a later mildly stimulated cycle. The implantation and pregnancy rates for frozen-thawed pronuclear stage oocytes derived from the GnRH antagonist compared with the GnRH agonist were 3.26% versus 3.73% (P=1.0000) and 8.33% versus 10.25% (P=1.0000), respectively. To our knowledge we report here the first pregnancies obtained by the transfer of cryopreserved pronuclear stage embryos generated from ICSI using a GnRH antagonist in the collecting cycle. The use of Cetrorelix in a multiple dose protocol in combination with hMG does not demonstrate a negative effect on viability, implantation potential or pregnancy outcome as compared to 2PN conceptuses obtained from a long GnRH agonist-hMG protocol.     

GnRH antagonist versus follicular-phase single-dose GnRH agonist protocol in patients of normal ovarian responses during controlled ovarian stimulation

Objective: This study aims to explore the differences of the ovarian stimulation (OS) characteristics, laboratory, and clinical outcomes between follicular-phase single-dose gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol and GnRH antagonist protocol during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).

Methods: About 1883 consecutive IVF/ICSI fresh cycles of normal ovarian responders were retrospectively analyzed, with 1229 in the single-dose GnRH agonist protocol group and 654 in the GnRH antagonist protocol group at Reproductive Medical Center of Tongji Hospital from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2017.

Results: The follicular-phase single-dose GnRH agonist group showed significantly more oocytes obtained, higher implantation rate and pregnancy rate, as well as lower luteinizing hormone (LH) level and estradiol (E2)/oocyte ratio on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. However, differences were not significant in meiosis II (MII) oocyte rate, two pronuclear zygote (2PN) embryo rate, viable embryo rate or high-quality embryo rate, compared with the GnRH antagonist group. Further comparison of clinical outcomes in the first frozen-thawed cycles did not show significant difference in either implantation or clinical pregnancy rate between the two protocol groups.

Conclusions: Follicular-phase single-dose GnRH agonist protocol may achieve better clinical outcomes in normal ovarian responders, which could be explained more by positive effect on endometrial receptivity rather than embryo quality.     

两种控制性超促排卵方案在卵巢低反应患者中的临床研究

目的:探讨标准长方案与拮抗剂方案控制性超促排卵(COH)周期在卵巢低反应(POR)患者中的临床效果。方法:通过对POR患者行体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)的191个周期进行回顾性分析,其中GnRH-a长方案85个周期(A组),拮抗剂方案106个周期(B组),比较组间的临床资料及助孕结局。结果:A组的hCG注射日内膜厚度、获卵数、MII卵子数、可移植胚胎数、活产分娩率均高于B组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);A组的优质胚胎数、胚胎种植率、移植周期妊娠率均高于B组,A组的周期取消率、流产率均低于B组,但差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:标准长方案对卵巢低反应患者有较好的治疗效果;标准长方案可提高患者获卵数、可移植胚胎数、活产分娩率。     

体外受精周期卵巢储备功能正常采用激动剂长方案与拮抗剂方案促排卵的临床结局比较

目的:探讨卵巢储备功能正常者采用激动剂长方案和拮抗剂方案促排卵对体外受精周期妊娠结局的影响。方法:回顾性分析卵巢储备功能正常者进行体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)的265个周期。根据促排卵方案不同将其分为:激动剂长方案促排卵组(长方案组,157个周期),拮抗剂方案组(拮抗剂组,108个周期)。结果:患者的年龄、不孕年限、体质量指数(BMI)、基础性激素水平等一般情况组间均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。hCG注射日直径14 mm以上的卵泡数、hCG注射日E2水平、平均移植胚胎数及胚胎质量、受精率、生化妊娠率、早期流产率等组间均亦无统计学差异(P>0.05);但获卵数(12.6±4.6 vs 10.8±4.6)、可用胚胎数(5.0±3.0 vs 4.2±2.7)、胚胎种植率(29.87%vs 20.98%)、临床妊娠率(42.76%vs 28.70%)长方案组明显高于拮抗剂组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:卵巢储备功能正常者拮抗剂促排卵,其胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率明显低于长方案组。     

Endometrial preparation in oocyte recipients

Oocyte donation is offered to patients with premature ovarian failure to achieve pregnancy when no other assisted reproductive technology is possible. Some clinical and biological factors have been identified for influencing the outcome of oocyte donation cycles. Embryo implantation depends on embryo quality, method for the embryo transfer, and endometrial differentiation. In our center, the oocyte recipients receive for the endometrial preparatory cycle the same treatment that for the patients undergoing frozen embryos transfers, with good clinical pregnancy rates, about 35% per transfer. Estrogen and progesterone supplementation with GnRH agonist down regulation are used in synchronized protocols or for frozen embryos transfers. The synchronization between recipient's endometrium and donor's ovarian stimulation is very restrictive. Nowadays, the oocytes vitrification lithens the oocyte donation process: the endometrial preparation has a limited duration and is well controlled, and embryos that are transferred are all fresh embryos.     

Effect of prolonged gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in patients with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a 3-month course of GnRH agonist administered immediately before IVF-ET in infertile patients with endometriosis. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized trial. SETTING: Three tertiary care assisted reproductive technology programs. PATIENT(S): IVF-ET candidates with surgically confirmed endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): Twenty-five patients received three courses of a long-acting GnRH agonist, 3.75 mg i.m. every 28 days, followed by standard controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Twenty-six patients received standard controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with mid-luteal phase GnRH agonist down-regulation or microdose flare regimens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, ongoing pregnancy rates per cycle, group implantation rates, and implantation rate per embryo transfer procedure. RESULT(S): The extent of surgically confirmed endometriosis was greater in patients who received the long-acting GnRH regimen for 3 months before IVF-ET. The groups did not differ significantly in terms of dose or duration of gonadotropin stimulation, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, or number of embryos transferred. Patients who received the long-acting GnRH regimen had significantly higher ongoing pregnancy rates (80% vs. 53.85%) and a trend toward higher implantation rates (42.68% vs. 30.38%). CONCLUSION(S): Prolonged use of GnRH agonist before IVF-ET in patients with endometriosis resulted in significantly higher ongoing pregnancy rates than did standard controlled ovarian hyperstimulation regimens. No deleterious effect on ovarian response was observed.     

Synchronization between endometrial and embryonic age is not absolutely crucial for implantation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the need of P for endometrial preparation before cryopreserved embryo transfer (ET) in an artificial cycle. DESIGN: A case report. SETTING:: An IVF unit in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): A 31-year-old woman treated in our IVF unit for secondary infertility due to severe oligoasthenospermia. INTERVENTION(S): Artificial preparation of the endometrium with estrogen (E) alone. Progesterone was added only after the cryopreserved embryos were transferred. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Plasma P levels, implantation, and pregnancy outcome. RESULT(S): The pregnancy and delivery of a healthy fetus, resulting from a day 3 frozen-thawed embryo that was transferred to an endometrium without any previous P priming. CONCLUSION(S): This unique case raises the question concerning the possibility that the putative "window of implantation" may be broader than previously thought, and that apposition and implantation can occur with minimal exposure to P.     

Similar outcome for cryopreserved embryo transfer following GnRH-antagonist/GnRH-agonist, GnRH-antagonist/HCG or long protocol ovarian stimulation

The pregnancy rates after triggering of final oocyte maturation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist in GnRH-antagonist ovarian stimulation protocols are lower than those following triggering with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Furthermore, lower pregnancy rates following GnRH-antagonist protocols compared with long GnRH-agonist protocols have been reported. The differences might be due to an impact on oocyte number and quality or on the endometrium. If any stimulation protocol had a negative impact on oocyte quality, then further evidence of this effect would be observed following frozen-thawed embryo transfer originating from that stimulation cycle. The outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer was retrospectively analysed using the long protocol with triptorelin depot 3.75 mg (n = 215) or 0.1 mg/day (n = 83), or GnRH-antagonist protocol with either HCG (n = 69) or GnRH-agonist (n = 25) for final oocyte maturation. The outcomes measured were implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate and embryo survival rate. All outcomes were similar in the four groups. It is concluded that the potential for frozen-thawed embryos to implant and develop following transfer is independent of the GnRH-analogue and the final oocyte maturation protocol used in the collection cycle. Lower IVF embryo transfer success using GnRH-antagonist/GnRH-agonist protocol does not appear to be related to an adverse effect on oocyte quality.     

Endocrine and biological factors influencing implantation of human embryos following cryopreservation.

Several parameters affecting survival and implantation of frozen-thawed embryos were studied. Of 386 embryos frozen in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or in 1,2 propanediol (PROH), the survival rate was 63.5% (245/386). Three different methods of cycle preparation were compared prior to thawed embryo replacement. The pregnancy rate was 16.1% (9/56) in spontaneous cycles; 11.4% (5/44) in an ovarian stimulation protocol; and 9.5% (4/42) with estrogen and progesterone substitutional therapy (p = NS). There was no difference in the estradiol/progesterone ratio among the three different protocols during the early luteal phase of the cycle, which may indicate that implantation of thawed embryos could be related to their developmental potential rather than to the endometrial environment. In the spontaneous cycles, when endometrium was synchronized or advanced to embryonic stage up to 32h, implantation rate was 29.2%.     

Does oral contraceptives pretreatment affect the pregnancy outcome in polycystic ovary syndrome women undergoing ART with GnRH agonist protocol?

This study aims to investigate whether oral contraceptive pills (OCP) pretreatment impairs pregnancy outcomes in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women undergoing GnRH agonist protocol. A total of 1025 couples underwent their first cycle of in vitro fertilization. Patients were divided into GnRH agonist protocol group (LP group) and OCP dual suppression GnRH agonist protocol group (OC-LP group). Logistic regressions were performed to estimate the risk factors affecting live birth following fresh embryo transfer between groups. Frozen–thawed embryos from the first oocyte retrieval cycle were replaced into uterus for women did not get live birth. Cumulative live birth rates between groups were compared by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Serum luteinizing hormone level, endometrial thickness, and live birth rate were significantly reduced in the OC-LP group in fresh cycle. Thinner endometrium, higher progesterone, and poorer embryo quality were independent risk factors for failure in getting live birth following fresh embryo transfer. However, cumulative live birth rate, medium embryo transfer attempts required to achieve live birth were comparable between groups. OCP pretreatment in GnRH agonist protocol does not seem to impair the pregnancy outcome when calculated by cumulative live birth rate in PCOS women.     

自然周期准备内膜在子宫内膜异位症患者冻融胚胎移植中的结局分析

目的:研究以自然周期作为子宫内膜准备方式对子宫内膜异位症(EMS)患者冻融胚胎移植(FET)妊娠结局的影响。方法:回顾性分析EMS患者353个FET周期,按EMS严重程度分组,A组:I~II期,120个周期;B组:III~IV期,233个周期;另将B组中囊肿复发的47个周期设为D组;而将输卵管因素不孕患者的300个FET周期纳入为对照组(C组),比较A、B、C组患者自然周期准备内膜的妊娠结局。结果:A、B、C组患者的种植率、活产率、继续妊娠率、流产率、妊娠期并发症率无统计学差异(P0.05),且妊娠结局与EMS的分期无关。A、B、C组均没有出生缺陷儿。当高质量的胚胎移植时,卵巢内膜异位囊肿并不影响妊娠结局。B组较C组低出生体质量儿和早产儿的发生率高。结论:EMS患者自然周期准备内膜与输卵管性因素不孕患者有相似的妊娠结局,且与EMS严重程度无关,妊娠结局不受内膜异位囊肿的影响,是经济、高效的内膜准备方法。     

Effect of blastomere loss on the outcome of frozen embryo replacement cycles

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of survival of cryopreservation and thawing with all blastomeres intact on the outcome of frozen embryo replacement (FER) cycles. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary referral assisted conception unit. PATIENT(S): The number of intact blastomeres before cryopreservation and after thawing was prospectively recorded in 1,687 cleavage-stage embryos thawed in 377 FER cycles. The cycles were categorized into two groups: group A (n = 184) included cycles in which all embryos transferred survived the cryopreservation and thawing process with all their original blastomeres intact; group B (n = 193) included cycles in which embryos transferred included at least one partially damaged embryo that has lost up to 50% of its original blastomere number. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnancy and embryo implantation rates. RESULT(S): Groups A and B were comparable with respect to mean age at cryopreservation, mean number of oocytes retrieved and fertilized normally in the fresh cycle, and mean age at frozen transfer. No significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to mean number of frozen and thawed embryos per cycle and mean endometrial thickness reached before P supplementation. More embryos were transferred per cycle in group B than group A (2.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.6, respectively). However, the pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates per cycle were significantly higher in group A than in group B (39.1% and 28.3% vs. 22.8% and 13.5%, respectively). The implantation rate was also higher in group A than in group B (17.3% vs. 8.1%, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): FER cycles in which all embryos transferred remained fully intact at thawing achieve a better outcome than those with at least one partially damaged embryo.     

Ovarian suppression treatment prior to in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in Chinese women with stage III or IV endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a 2-month treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist prior to in-vitro fertilization in Chinese women with moderate or severe endometriosis. METHODS: A study of 162 women surgically diagnosed as having moderate or severe endometriosis. Pituitary down-regulation was achieved with injections of a GnRH agonist prior to the IVF procedures either for 7 to 10 days in the mid-luteal phase (group 1 [standard protocol], 97 cycles in total), or for 2 months (group 2, 55 cycles), or 3 months (group 3, 75 cycles). RESULTS: Women pretreated with a GnRH agonist for 2 or 3 months required significantly higher doses of gonadotropin for ovarian stimulation (P<0.001), and for a longer time, than those treated with the standard long protocol (P<0.05). The number of oocytes and good embryos was lower in group 3 than in groups 1 or 2 (P<0.05). The implantation rate was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P<0.02). CONCLUSION: A 2-month treatment with a GnRH agonist prior to IVF produced a trend toward an increase in the implantation rate in a group of Chinese women with stages III and IV endometriosis.     

Long-term pituitary downregulation before frozen embryo transfer could improve pregnancy outcomes in women with adenomyosis

Abstract

Some studies have shown that long-term gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist administration before in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm in infertile women with endometriosis or adenomyosis significantly increases the chances of pregnancy. We were interested in whether long-term GnRH agonist pretreatment could improve pregnancy outcomes in adenomyosis patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET) after preparation of the endometrium with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Totally, 339 patients with adenomyosis were included in this retrospective study, 194 received long-term GnRH agonist plus HRT (down-regulation?+?HRT) and 145 received HRT. There were no differences between the groups in characteristic such as age, body mass index, duration or cause of infertility, serum CA-125 level and basal hormone levels. On the day of progesterone administration, mean endometrial thickness and serum progesterone level were significantly greater in HRT patients. Mean score and number of embryos transferred showed no differences. In down regulation?+?HRT group, clinical pregnancy, implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates were 51.35%, 32.56% and 48.91%, respectively, significantly higher than that of HRT group (24.83%, 16.07% and 21.38%, respectively). So, we concluded that in FET, long-term GnRH agonist pretreatment significantly improved pregnancy outcomes in patients with adenomyosis.