Prospective, randomized, comparative study of leuprorelin + human menopausal gonadotropins versus ganirelix + recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in oocyte donors and pregnancy rates among the corresponding recipients

Abstract

Aim: To compare the clinical pregnancy rate in recipients of oocytes from donors treated with leuprorelin + human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) with that obtained when the donors were treated with ganirelix + recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH). The secondary aim was to compare the donors' response to the two treatments.

Method: A prospective, randomized, comparative study was conducted between January 2005 and November 2006 in a private hospital. Donors were randomized to receive a long protocol of leuprorelin + hMG (group DI) or ganirelix + rFSH (group DII). Their respective recipients were randomized to group RI or group RII, respectively.

Results: The characteristics of the donors were similar in both groups. More cycles were cancelled in group DI than in group DII (28.1% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.05). Compared with donors in group DII, the donors in group DI required a significantly higher dose of gonadotropins (2794 +/- 957 U vs. 1777 +/- 1043 U; p < 0.05) and more days of stimulation (11.7 +/- 2.3 vs. 9.5 +/- 1.5; p < 0.05); they also yielded fewer oocytes (15.0 +/- 6.1 vs. 17.9 +/- 8.6; p < 0.05). There were no differences in the characteristics of the recipients, in the fertilization rate or in the number of embryos transferred. The quality of transferred embryos was better in group RI (8.0 +/- 1.2 vs. 7.5 +/- 1.6; p < 0.05), and this group also achieved a better pregnancy rate per embryo transfer than did group RII (62.3% vs. 48.4%; p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Treating oocyte donors with leuprorelin + hMG produces among recipients a greater probability of clinical pregnancy per embryo transfer than when donors are treated with ganirelix + rFSH; however, more cycles are cancelled and the former treatment is more unpleasant for donors.