Comparison of clinical efficacy between a single administration of long-acting gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and daily administrations of short-acting GnRHa in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycles

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a single administration of long-acting gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) as compared with daily administrations of short-acting GnRHa in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. The mean dosage of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) required for COH (2,354.5 +/- 244.2 vs. 2,012.5 +/- 626.1 IU) and the rFSH dosage per retrieved oocyte (336.7 +/- 230.4 vs. 292.1 +/- 540.4 IU) were significantly higher in the long-acting GnRHa group (N=22) than those in the short-acting GnRHa group (N=28) (p < 0.05). However, the mean number of visit to the hospital that was required before ovum pick-up (3.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 22.2 +/- 2.0) and the frequency of injecting GnRHa and rFSH (12.8 +/- 1.2 vs. 33.5 +/- 3.5) were significantly decreased in the long-acting GnRHa group (p < 0.0001). The clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, and early pregnancy loss rate were not significantly different between the 2 groups. So, we suggest that a single administration of long-acting GnRHa is a useful alternative for improving patient's convenience with clinical outcomes comparable to daily administrations of short-acting GnRHa in COH for IVF-ET cycles.