Selective early elimination of luteal support in assisted reproduction cycles using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist during ovarian stimulation

Abstract

Objective: To determine if women undergoing GnRH agonist-hMG stimulated IVF cycles can undergo successful discontinuation of luteal phase support.

Design: A protocol for selective discontinuation of luteal phase support was evaluated prospectively in women undergoing assisted reproduction cycles.

Setting: A tertiary care institutional-based assisted reproduction program.

Patient(s): One hundred eighty-eight women who conceived after an IVF or zygote intrafallopian transfer cycle including a GnRH agonist between January 1994 and June 1997.

Intervention(s): Women with serum progesterone levels of > or = 60 ng/mL at 4 weeks' gestation were selected for discontinuation of their luteal phase support.

Main outcome measure(s): Delivery rate.

Result(s): Sixty-three women (62.4%) met the criteria for discontinuation of luteal phase support. There were no differences in the mean age, peak E2 levels, number of follicles, number of embryos transferred, or delivery rates (85.7% versus 78.9%) between the women who did and those who did not have discontinuation of their progesterone supplementation.

Conclusion(s): These data reveal that luteal phase support can be discontinued successfully for selective women undergoing IVF who are receiving a GnRH agonist.