Health of 227 children born after controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization using the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonist cetrorelix

Objective: To summarize data from completed phase II and III clinical trial s on children born after controlled ovarian stimulation using the luteinizi ng hormone-releasing hormone antagonist cetrorelix. Design: All children born after ovarian stimulation in patients treated for infertility who were in prospective studies until March 23, 1999. Setting: Academic research center. Patient(s): Children born after IVF or IVF plus ICSI. Intervention(s): Controlled ovarian stimulation with cetrorelix in a multip le-dose or single/dual-dose protocol. Main Outcome Measure(s): Outcome of pregnancy and, in deliveries, the date of birth, number and sex of children born, birth weight, body length, and a bnormalities were recorded. At approximately 1 year of age and 2 years of a ge, body weight and length and abnormalities in physical and mental develop ment were recorded. Result(s): Two hundred nine and 18 children were born after fresh and froze n embryo transfers, respectively. Of the pregnancies, 76.2% (179 of 234) re sulted in live birth and ectopic pregnancy occurred in 3.4% (8 of 231); one heterotopic pregnancy and four induced abortions were recorded. The malfor mation rate among all live births, stillbirths, and aborted fetuses was 3.1 %. Conclusion(s): Use of cetrorelix in controlled ovarian stimulation does not harm the subsequently born children. (C) 2001 by American Society for Repr oductive Medicine.