Pregnancy Outcomes With a GnRH Antagonist Protocol Versus GnRH-Agonist Protocol in ICSI Cycles

Pregnancy Outcomes With a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Antagonist (Cetrorelix) Protocol Versus GnRH-Agonist Protocol in Ovarian Stimulation for ICSI Cycles-a Prospective Study

Cycles with GnRH agonist and GnRH antagonist were compared and main outcome measures were the number of oocytes retrieved, injected and fertilized, embryos transferred, and clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates, were analized.

160 women were equally divided between a GnRH antagonist protocol (Group 1) versus a GnRH agonist protocol (Group 2) in ICSI cycles. The trial was conducted between September 2005 and December 2006. The mean age in both groups was 32 (range 22-40). The main outcome measures were the number of oocytes retrieved, injected and fertilized, embryos transferred, and clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Infertility couples, absence of endometriosis (confirmed by a previous surgical procedure to investigate infertility), polycystic ovarian syndrome, FSH levels < 12 IU/l, basal levels of estradiol < 20 in the group submitted to the agonist protocol and beginning of stimulation on day 2 in group submitted to antagonist protocol, in the absence of ovarian cysts on the endovaginal ultrasound

Exclusion Criteria:

• use of exogenous LH during stimulation