Embryology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Embryology, including details on stem cells, reproduction, transplants, cloning.

Ovarian suppression treatment prior to in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in Chinese women with stage III or IV endometriosis.

Ma C, Qiao J, Liu P, Chen G

Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a 2-month treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist prior to in-vitro fertilization in Chinese women with moderate or severe endometriosis. METHODS: A study of 162 women surgically diagnosed as having moderate or severe endometriosis. Pituitary down-regulation was achieved with injections of a GnRH agonist prior to the IVF procedures either for 7 to 10 days in the mid-luteal phase (group 1 [standard protocol], 97 cycles in total), or for 2 months (group 2, 55 cycles), or 3 months (group 3, 75 cycles). RESULTS: Women pretreated with a GnRH agonist for 2 or 3 months required significantly higher doses of gonadotropin for ovarian stimulation (P<0.001), and for a longer time, than those treated with the standard long protocol (P<0.05). The number of oocytes and good embryos was lower in group 3 than in groups 1 or 2 (P<0.05). The implantation rate was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P<0.02). CONCLUSION: A 2-month treatment with a GnRH agonist prior to IVF produced a trend toward an increase in the implantation rate in a group of Chinese women with stages III and IV endometriosis.

Published 14 January 2008 in Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 100(2): 167-70.
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