Fertility and Sterility
Volume 85, Issue 3 , Pages 578-583, March 2006

Oocyte maturity and preimplantation development in relation to follicle diameter in gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist or antagonist treatments

Presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction (ESHRE) 2004 20th Annual Meeting; Berlin, Germany; June 27 to 30, 2004.

  • Daniela Nogueira, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Follicle Biology Laboratory, Free University of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Daniela Nogueira, Ph.D., Women and Infants Hospital, New England Medical Center, Tufts, 750 Washington Street, Box 036, Boston, Massachusetts (FAX: 1-617-636-5906).
    • ,
  • Shevach Friedler, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • IVF and Fertility Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
    • ,
  • Morey Schachter, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • IVF and Fertility Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
    • ,
  • Arieh Raziel, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • IVF and Fertility Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
    • ,
  • Raphael Ron-El, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • IVF and Fertility Unit, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
    • ,
  • Johan Smitz, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Follicle Biology Laboratory, Free University of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Brussels, Belgium

Received 27 December 2004; received in revised form 11 August 2005; accepted 11 August 2005.

Objective

To analyze the distribution of oocytes nuclear maturational stages and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome in relation to follicular size, after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH), using gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist or agonist protocols.

Design

Prospective comparative study.

Setting

Fertility unit in an academic hospital.

Patient(s)

Normo-ovulatory patients with unexplained, male and/or tubal factor infertility undergoing ICSI treatment.

Intervention(s)

Oocytes were retrieved from small (7–12 mm) and large follicles (>12 mm).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Oocyte nuclear maturation stage, fertilization and pre-implantation embryonic development of the mature ova evaluated.

Result(s)

Distribution of oocyte maturation stages from small follicles did not differ between the two COH protocols. From large follicles, a statistically significantly higher percentage of immature oocytes was retrieved after antagonist compared with agonist treatment (16 vs 11%, respectively). No statistically significant differences existed regarding ICSI outcome of mature ova within the same follicle diameter range between COH protocols. Inseminated ova from small follicles presented a significantly higher number of embryos with delayed development on day 3 after ICSI.

Conclusion(s)

A greater heterogeneity of maturity was found in the population of oocyte stages that were present after the antagonist protocol. Matured oocytes retrieved from small follicles generated embryos of lower developmental potential than oocytes derived from larger follicles.

Key Words:  Follicles , oocyte maturation , oocyte development , GnRH analogues

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PII: S0015-0282(05)03948-8

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.08.033

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 85, Issue 3 , Pages 578-583, March 2006

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