Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist reduces the miscarriage rate for pregnancies achieved in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) with that of gonadotropins only, on the cumulative livebirth rate and miscarriage rate of pregnancies achieved in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Retrospective analysis of the outcome of 97 pregnancies according to the treatment protocol, with or without GnRH-a. Calculation of miscarriage rate and cumulative livebirth rate by life-table analysis.

Setting: Infertility clinic and in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit.

Patients: Women with polycystic ovaries (n = 239) who were clomiphene citrate failures and received either GnRH-a/hMG (n = 110) or gonadotropins only (n = 129) for ovulation induction (n = 138) or superovulation for IVF (n = 101).

Interventions: For ovulation induction, hMG was given in a step-up, individually adjusted dose scheme. For IVF, three ampules of pure follicle-stimulating hormone were given for 3 days followed by three ampules per day hMG and then individual dose adjustment. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (Decapeptyl, D-Trp6, microcapsules, 3.75 mg) was given in a single dose 2 weeks before gonadotropin treatment.

Main outcome measures: The rate of early miscarriages (< 12 weeks) per pregnancies achieved was analyzed, and the cumulative livebirth rate for each treatment group was calculated by life-table analysis.

Results: Miscarriage rates after treatment in ovulation induction with (16.7%) and without GnRH-a (39.4%) and in IVF with (18.2%) and without GnRH-a (38.5%) were almost identical and were therefore analyzed together. Of pregnancies achieved with GnRH-a, 17.6% miscarried compared with 39.1% of those achieved with gonadotropins alone. Cumulative livebirth rate after four cycles for GnRH-a was 64% compared with 26% for gonadotropins only.

Conclusions: Cotreatment with GnRH-a/hMG for anovulatory women with PCOS reduces the miscarriage rate and improves the livebirth rate compared with treatment with gonadotropins alone.