Cumulative live birth rates after GnRH-agonist triggering of final oocyte maturation in patients at risk of OHSS: a prospective, clinical cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: To prospectively study the incidence of OHSS, live birth likelihood and neonatal outcome after GnRH-agonist triggering of final oocyte maturation and vitrification of all pronucleate (2PN) oocytes for later frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FRET) in an OHSS-risk population.

Study design: Prospective, clinical cohort study (12/2004-5/2009). Forty patients undergoing ovarian stimulation in a GnRH-antagonist protocol and at risk of developing severe OHSS underwent triggering with 0.2mg triptorelin and elective vitrification of all 2PN-oocytes for later frozen-thawed embryo transfer.

Results: The incidence of OHSS was 0% (0/40; 95% confidence interval: 0.0-6.4%). Thirty-nine patients underwent 87 FRETs (mean number of FRETs per patient: 2.2+/-1.6; range: 1-7). The cumulative live birth rate per patient was 35.0% (14/40; 95% confidence interval: 23.9-48.0%). Mean time-to-conception resulting in live birth after agonist triggering was 24.2 (+/-17.1; range: 9-67) weeks. Nine healthy singletons and five twins were born.

Conclusions: A treatment algorithm combining agonist trigger with vitrification of all 2PN-oocytes is feasible and safe, and provides patients with a good cumulative chance of live birth.