THE DURATION OF LEUPROLIDE ACETATE ADMINISTRATION PRIOR TO OVULATION INDUCTION DOES NOT IMPACT OVARIAN RESPONSIVENESS TO EXOGENOUS GONADOTROPINS

Objective: To evaluate the possible impact that the duration of GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) suppression has on subsequent ovarian responsiveness to exogenous gonadotropins. Design: Prospective evaluation of the relationship between the duration of GnRH-a and multiple parameters of ovarian responsiveness. Setting: Assisted reproduction program in a large military tertiary care center. Patients: One hundred sixty-five women being pretreated with leuprolide acetate (LA) before ovulation induction with exogenous gonadotropins. Interventions: Variable duration of LA administration before stimulation. Main Outcome Measures: Outcome measures include duration of stimulation, days until doubling of basal E2, number of ampules of exogenous gonadotropins, peak E2, number of mature follicles, and number of mature oocytes. Results: The duration of LA pretreatment had no effect on any of the parameters of ovarian responsiveness analyzed. Conclusion: Once complete suppression of gonadal function is attained, the duration of GnRH-a suppression has no impact on subsequent ovarian responsiveness to exogenous gonadotropins.