The long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues impaired the implantation rate

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the efficacy and innocuousness of long-acting versus short-acting GnRH analogues (GnRH-a) in long protocol for in IVF-ET.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: The IVF unit at an academic hospital.

Patients: One hundred couples admitted for their first IVF-ET attempt.

Main outcome measures: Serum concentrations of LH, E2, and P during the all cycles and duration of pituitary desensitization were assessed, as well as fertilization rate, embryo quality, and implantation and pregnancy rates.

Results: Significantly more days (10.8 +/- 1.8 versus 9.2 +/- 1.7 days) of stimulation and more ampules of hMG (47 +/- 22 versus 33 +/- 16) were necessary to obtain similar numbers of embryos of quality with the long-acting GnRH-a. Implantation and delivery rates were significantly lower with the long-acting GnRH-a (32.8% versus 21.1%; 48.9% versus 29.1%, respectively).

Conclusions: As the long-acting GnRH-a might interfere with the luteal phase and embryo development, short-acting GnRH-a should be preferred for ovarian hyperstimulation in IVF-ET.