COMPARISON BETWEEN DEPOT LEUPRORELIN AND DAILY BUSERELIN IN IVF

Objectives: To compare the effects of depot and daily forms of GnRH an alogs in IVF programs. Methods: One hundred seventeen patients undergo ing IVF, with no severe male factor, were randomized between two treat ment groups. Pituitary desensitization was obtained in group 1 (60 pat ients) with a single IM injection of leuprorelin (3.75 mg), and in gro up 2 (57 patients) with buserelin (0.3 mg SC twice daily). In a subgro up of 10 patients (5 for the depot form and 5 for the daily form) seve ral GnRH tests were performed to investigate pituitary desensitization .Results: No differences were found in the time to reach desensitizati on. Resumption of pituitary activity occurred in 7 days with the daily form and in about 2 months with the depot form. No significant differ ences were found in the stimulation pattern, oocyte quality, percentag e of fertilization. The pregnancy rate per transfer was slightly, but not significantly, better in the depot group (29.4% vs 25.9%). Implant ation rate (11.9% vs 12.3%) and the percentage of miscarriages (26.6% vs 28.5%) were similar. Conclusion: Depot and daily forms of GnRH anal ogs are equally effective in superovulation induction for IVF. Conside ring improved patient compliance and preference, depot forms are advan tageous.