Effect of a low dose of gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist on in vitro fertilization outcomes

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 288; no. 3; pp. 691 - 695
• Main Authors: Kerimoğlu, Özlem Seçilmiş, Ercan, Cihangir Mutlu, Keskin, Uğur, Korkmaz, Cem, Duru, Namık Kemal, Ergün, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.09.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Endocrinology; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - administration & dosage; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - analogs & derivatives; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - antagonists & inhibitors; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; In vitro fertilization; Luteinizing Hormone - secretion; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Reproductive Medicine; Retrospective Studies; In vitro fertilization; LH surge; Antagonist; Cetrorelix
• ISSN: 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-013-2806-z

Purpose This study aims to determine whether a low dose of the gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist, cetrorelix, prevents a premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and affects in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes compared to the standard dose of 0.25 mg/day. Methods In this study, 45 IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients were stimulated with recombinant follicle stimulation hormone from day 2 of the cycle. Cetrorelix was injected daily from day 6 of gonadotropin administration. Twenty-two patients received cetrorelix at a dose of 0.25 mg/day, whereas 23 participants received half dose. Results The mean consumption of gonadotropins was significantly higher in patients receiving 0.25 mg/day of cetrorelix (2,213 vs. 1,350 U; p  = 0.046). The clinical pregnancy rates were similar in both groups (31.8 vs. 47.8 %; p  = 0.273). Premature LH surge was detected in 9.1 % of the patients receiving cetrorelix 0.25 mg/day and in 13 % of the patients receiving cetrorelix 0.125 mg/day ( p  > 0.05). The difference between two groups was not statistically significant ( p  > 0.05). Conclusıons Our results suggest that there is no difference between a cetrorelix dose of 0.125 or 0.25 mg/day in preventing premature LH rise during ovarian stimulation for IVF.