LEVONORGESTREL-RELEASING INTRAUTERINE-DEVICE CAN BE USED IN OOCYTE DONORS DURING OVARIAN STIMULATION

Seven oocyte donors with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devic e (LNG-IUD) in situ (group A) underwent ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) after goserelin down-regulation, in ei ght treatment cycles, The donors in a control group (group B, n = 16) were comparable in age, body mass index and parity characteristics. Th ere were no statistically significant differences in response to ovari an hyperstimulation between the two groups, The number of oocytes reco vered was 12.4 +/- 5.1 (SD) following stimulation with 27.9 +/- 9.3 am poules of HMG over 11.2 +/- 1,3 days in group A, Following stimulation with 26.2 +/- 6.3 ampoules of HMG over 11.0 +/- 1.0 days, the number of oocytes collected was 13.9 +/- 10.4 in group B. The fertilization r ate (2PN/cell) of cells in group A was 63% (62/99) and in group B, 53% (117/220, not significant), The cleavage rate of cells in group A (60 %, 59/99) was significantly higher than in group B (47%, 104/220) (P < 0.05), On average, two embryos were transferred per cycle, In group A , the pregnancy rate per transfer was 40% (4/10) and in group B, 29% ( 6/21; not significant), In conclusion, LNG-IUD can be used as a contra ceptive method during ovarian stimulation of volunteer oocyte donors.