Increased pregnancy rates after ultralong postoperative therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs in patients with endometriosis
Dagmar Rickes, Ingrid Nickel, Siegfried Kropf, Jürgen Kleinstein, Dagmar Rickes, Ingrid Nickel, Siegfried Kropf, Jürgen Kleinstein
Abstract
Objective: To examine whether ultralong GnRH analog (GnRH-a) therapy after surgical treatment of endometriosis and before ART influences the pregnancy rate.
Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study.
Setting: University clinic for reproductive medicine and gynecologic endocrinology.
Patient(s): One hundred ten patients with stage II to IV endometriosis according to ASRM criteria.
Intervention(s): Fifty-five patients received GnRH-a for 6 months after surgery and subsequently underwent up to 3 cycles of ART, and 55 patients received 3 cycles of ART alone immediately after surgery.
Main outcome measure(s): Clinical pregnancy rates.
Results: The pregnancy rate per patient was higher among patients who received follow-up treatment with GnRH-a. The same results were found in patients with stage III or IV endometriosis who were undergoing IUI or IVF/ICSI.
Conclusion(s): Ultralong GnRH-a therapy increases the pregnancy rate of ART in patients with severe endometriosis.
Source: PubMed