GnRH antagonist versus long GnRH agonist protocol in poor responders undergoing IVF: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) 2005-03, Vol.20 (3), p.616-621
• Main Authors: Cheung, Lai-Ping, Lam, Po-Mui, Lok, Ingrid Hung, Chiu, Tony Tak-Yu, Yeung, Sum-Yee, Tjer, Ching-Ching, Haines, Christopher John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Buserelin - administration & dosage; Buserelin - therapeutic use; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Embryo Transfer - statistics & numerical data; Feasibility Studies; Female; Fertility Agents, Female - administration & dosage; Fertility Agents, Female - therapeutic use; Fertilization in Vitro; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - therapeutic use; GnRH agonist; GnRH antagonist; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - administration & dosage; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - agonists; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - analogs & derivatives; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - antagonists & inhibitors; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - therapeutic use; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hormone Antagonists - administration & dosage; Hormone Antagonists - therapeutic use; Humans; IVF; Medical sciences; poor responder; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; randomized controlled trial; Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use; Treatment Failure
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh668

BACKGROUND. This is the first published report of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing a fixed, multi-dose GnRH antagonist protocol with a long GnRH agonist protocol in poor responders undergoing IVF. METHODS. Sixty-six poor responders were randomized into two groups: the study group received 0.25 mg of cetrorelix daily starting on day 6 of stimulation; the control group received 600 μg of buserelin acetate daily starting in the mid-luteal phase of the preceding cycle. Both groups were given a fixed dose of recombinant FSH (300 IU daily) for stimulation. RESULTS. There were no significant differences in the cycle cancellation rates, duration of stimulation, consumption of gonadotrophins, and mean numbers of mature follicles, oocytes and embryos obtained. The implantation rates were similar, but the number of embryos transferred was significantly higher for the antagonist group (2.32±0.58 versus 1.50±0.83; P=0.01). The pregnancy rates were also higher in the antagonist group, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION. A fixed multi-dose GnRH antagonist protocol is feasible for patients who are poor responders on a long agonist protocol; however, our study failed to demonstrate an overall improvement in ovarian responsiveness. Clinical outcomes may be improved by developing more flexible antagonist regimens, an approach that requires further evaluation.