Mild Stimulation Protocol Versus Microdose Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Agonist Flare up Protocol in Poor Responders

September 30, 2010 updated by: Yazd Medical University

The Use of Mild Stimulation Protocol in Poor Responders : a Randomized Trial

Despite the progression in assisted reproductive technology (ART), the preferred protocol for poor responders is still controversial. The management of poor responders consists of 10% of ART cycles .

The response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is lower regarding estradiol level , number of obtained oocytes , and fertilization , implantation and pregnancy rates in patients with low ovarian reserve . Furthermore , bad quality embryos are observed in these women more than normoresponders and the increase of cancellation rate and doses of gonadotropin administration are remarkable results in poor responders . Several criteria have introduced for poor responders , the main defect in the management of them is lack of specific definition .Several strategies are available to improve ART cycles outcome in poor responders. These modalities include using : high FSH dose , stop GnRH-agonist protocol , addition of growth hormone , transdermal testosterone , aromatase inhibitor , GnRH-antagonist and recombinant FSH ( r-FSH) ; while the improvement of pregnancy rate has been quite low.

The most common used protocol for ovarian stimulation is microdose GnRH-agonist flare in poor responders .Some investigators concluded that the use of GnRH-agonist " even in lower doses , led to prolonged stimulation and increased the cost without improving IVF outcome. Furthermore this method increased LH , progesterone and androgen of serum in follicular phase , which caused deleterious effect on follicular growth and oocyte quality .

Clomiphene citrate co-treatment with gonadotropin and antagonist are one of the recommended protocol in poor responders . Clomiphene citrate increases endogenous FSH versus agonist in microdose protocol. Decreasing the doses of used gonadotropin and duration of stimulation are its beneficial effects in COH cycle .

The aim of this study was comparing CC/gonadotropin/antagonist and GnRH agonist flare protocols on IVF outcome in poor responders .

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Despite the progression in assisted reproductive technology (ART) , the preferred protocol for poor responders is still controversial. The management of poor responders consists of 10% of ART cycles .

The response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is lower regarding estradiol (E₂) level , number of obtained oocytes , and fertilization , implantation and pregnancy rates in patients with low ovarian reserve . Furthermore , bad quality embryos are observed in these women more than normoresponders and the increase of cancellation rate and doses of gonadotropin administration are remarkable results in poor responders Several criteria have introduced for poor responders , the main defect in the management of them is lack of specific definition .Several strategies are available to improve ART cycles outcome in poor responders. These modalities include using : high FSH dose , stop GnRH-agonist protocol , addition of growth hormone , transdermal testosterone , aromatase inhibitor , GnRH-antagonist and recombinant FSH ( r-FSH) ; while the improvement of pregnancy rate has been quite low.

The most common used protocol for ovarian stimulation is microdose GnRH-agonist flare in poor responders .Some investigators concluded that the use of GnRH-agonist " even in lower doses " led to prolonged stimulation and increased the cost without improving IVF outcome. Furthermore this method increased LH , progesterone and androgen of serum in follicular phase , which caused deleterious effect on follicular growth and oocyte quality .

Clomiphene citrate co-treatment with gonadotropin and antagonist are one of the recommended protocol in poor responders . Clomiphene citrate increases endogenous FSH versus agonist in microdose protocol. Decreasing the doses of used gonadotropin and duration of stimulation are its beneficial effects in COH cycle .

The aim of this study was comparing CC/gonadotropin/antagonist and GnRH agonist flare protocols on IVF outcome in poor responders .

Materials and Methods Study design This study was a prospective randomized controlled trial including 159 poor responder patients who were candidate for IVF . Women with ≥38 years old who had one or more previous failed IVF cycles in which three or fewer oocyte were been retrieved and/or serum E2 level on the day of hCG administration was ≤500 pg/ml were enrolled in this study . Patients with BMI > 30 , endocrine or metabolic disorders , history of ovarian surgery , sever endometriosis and sever male factor ( azospermia ) were excluded from the study . Patients were divided into two groups , 79 women in group I received CC/gonadotropin/antagonist (mild protocol) and 80 women in group II received microdose GnRH-agonist flare (microdose protocol) . A method of computer-generated randomization was used .

Treatment Protocols All women received oral contraceptive for 21 days which started on the first day of previous cycle . In group I , stimulation were performed by administration of clomiphene citrate (Iran hormone, Tehran, Iran) 100 mg from day 3 of withdrawal bleeding until day 7 of cycle and gonadotropin stimulation with 225-300 IU daily , recombinant FSH (r-FSH) SC or hMG IM , were started from day 5 of cycle . In group II ovarian stimulation was initiated with GnRH-agonist , buserelin (Suprefact, Aventis Pharma, Frankfurt, Germany) 50 µg SC twice a day from cycle day 2 of withdrawal bleeding . After two days , 225-300 IU/day recombinant FSH (r-FSH) SC or hMG IM were administered.

Ovarian response was monitored by serial ultrasound examinations and evaluation of serum E₂ levels , then doses of gonadotropin were adjusted as required in both groups.

In group I , when at least one follicle ≥ 14 mm in mean diameter was observed , 0.25 mg GnRH antagonist (ganirelix , Organon, netherlands) SC daily was started and continued until hCG injection . Urinary Human chorionic gonadotropin 10000 IU was administered intramuscular when at least two follicles reached a mean diameter of 18 mm in both groups . Also , endometrial thickness and serum E₂ level were measured on the day of hCG injection .Oocyte retrieval was performed 34-36 hours after hCG injection and conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was done as appropriately . All embryos were scored by the number , size , shape , symmetry and cytoplasmic appearance of blastomers , and the presence of anucleate cytoplasmic fragmentation .

Based on the number and quality of available embryos and patient's age , one to five embryos were transferred on the day 2 or 3 after oocyte retrieval under ultrasound guidance with a CCD embryo transfer catheter (Laboratory C.C.D., Paris, France). Luteal support with progesterone 100 mg daily IM was started on the day of oocyte retrieval and was continued until the documentation of fetal heart activity on ultrasound.

Cycle cancellation was defined as three groups : [1] poor ovarian response : fewer than two growing follicles on transvaginal ultrasound, and an E₂ level < 200 pg/ml on the day 7 of stimulation ; [2] failed oocyte retrieval : no obtained oocyte on the day of ovarian puncture ; [3] failed fertilization : no fertilized oocyte after IVF/ICSI.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

159

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

38 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women with ≥38 years old
  • women who had one or more previous failed IVF cycles in which three or fewer oocyte were been retrieved and/or serum E2 level on the day of hCG administration was ≤500 pg/ml were enrolled in this study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • BMI > 30
  • endocrine disorders
  • metabolic disorders
  • history of ovarian surgery
  • sever endometriosis
  • sever male factor ( azospermia )

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: clomiphene citrate,pregnancy,poor responders
Woman in clomiphene citrate arm are administered 100mg/day oral from day 3 of menstrual cycle until day 7 of cycle
Drug: clomiphene citrate
100 mg per day oral for 7 days
Active Comparator: buserelin,pregnancy,poor responder
women in control arm are administered Buserelin buserelin 50 µg SC twice a day from cycle day 2 of menstrual cycle
Drug: buserelin
50 µg Subcutaneous twice a day from cycle day 2 of menstrual cycle

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
clinical pregnancy rate
Time Frame: until 12th gestational week
until 12th gestational week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
and implantation rate
Time Frame: until 12th gestational week
until 12th gestational week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Yazd Medical University

Collaborators

Yazd Research & Clinical Center for Infertility

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mehri Mashayekhy, infertility fellowship, Yazd Research and Clinical Centre for Infertility

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

April 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 30, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 30, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

October 1, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 1, 2010

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 30, 2010

Last Verified

September 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2063

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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