Scheduled administration of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist (Cetrorelix) on day 8 of in-vitro fertilization cycles: a pilot study

Abstract

To assess in a pilot study the ability of a single injection of a GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) to prevent premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surges in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer programme when administered on a fixed day in the late follicular phase, ovarian stimulation was carried out in 11 women with two ampoules of human menopausal gonadotrophin per day beginning on day 2 of the menstrual cycle. A 3 mg dose of Cetrorelix was administered on day 8 of the stimulation cycle. A second injection was administered 72 h later if ovulation was not triggered in the meantime. We did not observe a premature LH surge in any of the cycles studied. The injection of 3 mg Cetrorelix was capable of preventing LH surge in all the patients studied, introducing a very simple treatment protocol. Among the patients who received two injections (n = 3), the day of the first administration was delayed in two subjects due to slow follicular maturation kinetics. Out of 11 patients, 10 had an embryo transfer. Four clinical pregnancies were obtained (40% per embryo transfer), of which 3 are ongoing (30% per embryo transfer). A simple administration protocol for a new GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) was able to prevent LH surges in the 11 patients studied.