INFLUENCE OF GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE AGONIST TOTAL-DOSE IN THEOVARIAN STIMULATION IN THE LONG DOWN-REGULATION PROTOCOL FOR IN-VITROFERTILIZATION

The goal of our study was to assess,whether the total dose of gonadotr ophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) administered affects the succe ss of an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. A retrospective analy sis was performed on a total of 72 IVF cycles carried out on 70 patien ts with different causes of infertility included in our assisted repro duction programme. Cycles were divided into two groups according to th e number of days of GnRHa administration (leuprolide acetate 1 mg/day) necessary until ovarian desensitization occurred: group I(GI) <13 day s (n = 27) and group LI (GII) greater than or equal to 13 days (n = 45 ). The following parameters were assessed: number of gonadotrophin amp oules, number of stimulation days, endometrial thickness on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration, number of recover ed oocytes, pregnancy rate. Pregnancy rate/cycle and pregnancy rate/tr ansfer were positively correlated with the dose of GnRHa (GI: 44 and 6 0% respectively versus GII: 20% and 25% respectively). It is concluded that a long administration of GnRHa has no effect upon ovarian respon se, although the pregnancy rate is subsequently decreased.