Triggering ovulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in in vitro fertilization patients with polycystic ovaries does not cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome despite very high estradiol levels

Objective

To determine whether inducing ovulation with a GnRH agonist in patients with polycystic ovaries (PCO) would permit oocyte retrieval without the burden or risk of cancellation, coasting, or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), thus maintaining pregnancy rates by allowing embryo cryopreservation for transfer in a subsequent cycle.

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Setting

Private institution.

Patient(s)

Forty-two women who had previously experienced a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)/IVF cycle that had to be cancelled because of an elevated risk of OHSS.

Intervention(s)

Forty-two PCO patients with a previous cancelled IVF cycle were assigned to a second controlled ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH (75–150 IU/day) + GnRH antagonist (0.25 mg/day). Embryos were cryopreserved and transferred in a later cycle.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

OHSS, oocyte retrieval, and pregnancy rates.

Result(s)

In the first COH, the cycle had to be cancelled to avoid OHSS because E₂ serum levels were above safety levels (4809.6 ± 2947.7). However, in the second cycle (ovulation triggered with a GnRH agonist) and independent of E₂ serum levels (4518.5 ± 2118.85), all PCO patients eventually completed oocyte retrieval and frozen ET. With regard to pregnancy rates, 33% of patients receiving a transfer of a previously frozen embryo were successful. No patient developed OHSS.

Conclusion(s)

Triggering ovulation with a GnRH agonist followed by embryo cryopreservation allows PCO patients to complete a COH/IVF cycle with no cycle cancellation, coasting, or OHSS and, finally, to attain good pregnancy rates.

Key Words: PCO, OHSS, pregnancy, GnRH agonist, ovulation