THE DURATION OF LEUPROLIDE ACETATE ADMINISTRATION PRIOR TO OVULATION INDUCTION DOES NOT IMPACT OVARIAN RESPONSIVENESS TO EXOGENOUS GONADOTROPINS

Objective: To evaluate the possible impact that the duration of GnRH a gonist (GnRH-a) suppression has on subsequent ovarian responsiveness t o exogenous gonadotropins. Design: Prospective evaluation of the relat ionship between the duration of GnRH-a and multiple parameters of ovar ian responsiveness. Setting: Assisted reproduction program in a large military tertiary care center. Patients: One hundred sixty-five women being pretreated with leuprolide acetate (LA) before ovulation inducti on with exogenous gonadotropins. Interventions: Variable duration of L A administration before stimulation. Main Outcome Measures: Outcome me asures include duration of stimulation, days until doubling of basal E 2, number of ampules of exogenous gonadotropins, peak E2, number of ma ture follicles, and number of mature oocytes. Results: The duration of LA pretreatment had no effect on any of the parameters of ovarian res ponsiveness analyzed. Conclusion: Once complete suppression of gonadal function is attained, the duration of GnRH-a suppression has no impac t on subsequent ovarian responsiveness to exogenous gonadotropins.