Scheduled administration of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist (Cetrorelix) on day 8 of in-vitro fertilization cycles: a pilot study

Hum Reprod. 1995 Jun;10(6):1382-6.

Abstract

To assess in a pilot study the ability of a single injection of a GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) to prevent premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surges in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer programme when administered on a fixed day in the late follicular phase, ovarian stimulation was carried out in 11 women with two ampoules of human menopausal gonadotrophin per day beginning on day 2 of the menstrual cycle. A 3 mg dose of Cetrorelix was administered on day 8 of the stimulation cycle. A second injection was administered 72 h later if ovulation was not triggered in the meantime. We did not observe a premature LH surge in any of the cycles studied. The injection of 3 mg Cetrorelix was capable of preventing LH surge in all the patients studied, introducing a very simple treatment protocol. Among the patients who received two injections (n = 3), the day of the first administration was delayed in two subjects due to slow follicular maturation kinetics. Out of 11 patients, 10 had an embryo transfer. Four clinical pregnancies were obtained (40% per embryo transfer), of which 3 are ongoing (30% per embryo transfer). A simple administration protocol for a new GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) was able to prevent LH surges in the 11 patients studied.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Embryo Transfer*
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / therapeutic use
  • Hormone Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Luteinizing Hormone / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Ovulation Induction
  • Pilot Projects
  • Pregnancy
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Secretory Rate / drug effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Hormone Antagonists
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • cetrorelix