Outcome of ovarian response after suppression with a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist in different chronological periods prior to gonadotropin stimulation for in vitro fertilization.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRH-a) are currently used in combination with gonadotropins in ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization programs (IVF). The present study aims at evaluating the treatment cycles for IVF for which human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) was initiated only when pituitary desensitization was confirmed regardless of the time of GnRH-a administration. Two groups of patients were examined. Patients in group A (n = 46) were commenced with HMG treatment on day 15 when E2 level was less than 40 pg/ml. Group B patients (n = 27) comprised the cycle treatments in which E2 levels were greater than 40 pg/ml on day 15. In these cases HMG was first given when E2 levels declined to less than 40 pg/ml. The fertilization rate was similar in both A and B groups, 71.6 and 67.7% respectively. The pregnancy rate per transfer was 27.5 and 34.6% in group A and B respectively. Multiple pregnancies were found at 18.1% in group A versus 44.4% in group B. It is concluded that postponement of HMG administration in patients with high levels of E2 on day 15 after GnRH-a administration seems to offer an improvement in embryo cleavage speed, pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancies.