Comparison of luteal phase profile in gonadotrophin stimulated cycles with or without a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist

Hum Reprod. 2001 Nov;16(11):2258-62. doi: 10.1093/humrep/16.11.2258.

Abstract

Background: The aim of our study was to explore luteal phase hormone profiles in gonadotrophin-stimulated cycles with or without gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist therapy during intrauterine insemination (IUI). Forty-one infertile couples were recruited in this randomized clinical study.

Methods: The 19 patients included in group A were treated for 21 cycles with recombinant FSH 150 IU/day starting from day 3 of the cycle and with the GnRH antagonist cetrorelix at the dose of 0.25 mg/day starting from the day in which a follicle with a mean diameter of > or =14 mm was seen at ultrasound scan. Cetrorelix was administered until human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration. The 22 patients included in group B were administered recombinant FSH alone at the same dosage for 27 cycles.

Results: The two treatment groups showed a similar increase in progesterone concentration during the luteal phase. In the mid-luteal phase (day 6 after HCG), oestradiol concentrations in group B were significantly higher compared with group A (P < 0.05) but the oestradiol:progesterone ratio was similar in the two groups. Serum LH was completely suppressed during the follicular phase only in group A, concomitantly with GnRH antagonist administration. A total of six pregnancies, all ongoing, were achieved (14.3% per patient and 12.2% per cycle), equally distributed in group A and in group B.

Conclusion: GnRH antagonists can be safely administered in gonadotrophin-stimulated IUI cycles without luteal phase supplementation because no deleterious effects of GnRH antagonist administration were noted on luteal progesterone concentration or on the duration of the luteal phase.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / administration & dosage
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / administration & dosage
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / therapeutic use*
  • Follicular Phase
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / administration & dosage
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / therapeutic use*
  • Hormone Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Hormone Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / therapy
  • Insemination, Artificial
  • Luteal Phase*
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Male
  • Ovulation Induction*
  • Pregnancy
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Hormone Antagonists
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  • cetrorelix