Preventing the premature luteinizing hormone surge produced by gestagen in the modified ovarian stimulation protocol in assisted reproductive technology programs
Standard ovarian stimulation regimens use gonadotropin in combination with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues to prevent the premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge that improves the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs, by optimizing the number of extracted oocytes and the synchronization of the endometrium to embryo transfer. However, GnRH analogues have many disadvantages: uneasiness to use (the drug must be accurately prepared and be subcutaneously injected), cost, and different side effects. This has aroused interest in searching for medical alternatives. Current cryopreservation technologies, cycle segmentation strategy for delayed embryo transfer allow one to consider new approaches to ovarian stimulation without the limitations associated with endometrial effects and risks associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. At present, an ovarian stimulation strategy has been proposed, when gestagen is prescribed instead of a GnRH analogue, while oocyte (embryo) vitrification eliminates possible adverse effects on endometrial susceptibility. The advantage of this approach is ease of use, oral administration, affordability, and no adverse reactions.Korneeva I.E., Kovalchuk A.I.
Conclusion. The use of gestagens to suppress endogenous LH release may become the first choice for ovarian stimulation with planned oocyte or embryo cryopreservation, preimplantation genetic testing, in donor cycles, as well as in ovarian stimulation protocols for the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle or in double superovulation stimulation, which always require subsequent cryopreservation of biological material.
Keywords
ART
ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
premature ovulation
progestins
cycle segmentation
References
- Cavagna M., Paes de Almeida Ferreira Braga D., Biaggioni Lopes F., de Cássia Savio Figueira R., Iaconelli A. Jr., Borges E.Jr. The effect of GnRH analogues for pituitary suppression on ovarian response in repeated ovarian stimulation cycles. Arch. Med. Sci. 2011; 7(3): 470-5. https://dx.doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2011.23414.
- Kumar P., Sharma A. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs: understanding advantages and limitations. J. Hum. Reprod. Sci. 2014; 7(3): 170-4. https://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0974-1208.142476.
- Youssef M.A., Van der Veen F., Al-Inany H.G., Mochtar M.H., Griesinger G., Nagi Mohesen M. et al. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist versus HCG for oocyte triggering in antagonist-assisted reproductive technology. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2014; (10): CD008046. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd008046.pub4.
- Al-Inany H.G., Youssef M.A., Ayeleke R.O., Brown J., Lam W.S., Broekmans F.J. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists for assisted reproductive technology. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2016; (4): CD001750. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd001750.pub4.
- Bosch E., Valencia I., Escudero E., Crespo J., Simón C., Remohí J. et al. Premature luteinization during gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist cycles and its relationship with in vitro fertilization outcome. Fertil. Steril. 2003; 80(6): 1444-9. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.07.002.
- Messinis I.E. Ovarian feedback, mechanism of action and possible clinical implications. Hum. Reprod. Update. 2006; 12(5): 557-71. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dml020.
- Kuang Y., Hong Q., Chen Q., Lyu Q., Ai A., Fu Y. et al. Luteal-phase ovarian stimulation is feasible for producing competent oocytes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment, with optimal pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. Fertil. Steril. 2014; 101(1): 105-11. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.09.007.
- Beguería R., García D., Vassena R., Rodríguez A. Medroxyprogesterone acetate versus ganirelix in oocyte donation: a randomized controlled trial. Hum. Reprod. 2019; 34(5): 872-80. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dez034.
- Cobo A., Meseguer M., Remohí J., Pellicer A. Use of cryo-banked oocytes in an ovum donation programme: a prospective, randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Hum. Reprod. 2010; 25(9): 2239-46. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deq146.
- Drakopoulos P., Blockeel C., Stoop D., Camus M., de Vos M., Tournaye H. et al. Conventional ovarian stimulation and single embryo transfer for IVF/ICSI. How many oocytes do we need to maximize cumulative live birth rates after utilization of all fresh and frozen embryos? Hum. Reprod. 2016; 31(2): 370-6. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dev316.
- Wang Y., Chen Q., Wang N., Chen H., Lyu Q., Kuang Y. Controlled ovarian stimulation using medroxyprogesterone acetate and hMG in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome treated for IVF: a double-blind randomized crossover clinical trial. Medicine. 2016; 95(9): e2939. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000002939.
- Chen Q., Wang Y., Sun L., Zhang S., Chai W., Hong Q. et al. Controlled ovulation of the dominant follicle using progestin in minimal stimulation in poor responders. Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 2017; 15(1): 71. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12958-017-0291-0.
- Beguería R., García D., Vassena R., Rodríguez A. Medroxyprogesterone acetate versus ganirelix in oocyte donation: a randomized controlled trial. Hum. Reprod. 2019; 34(5): 872-80. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dez034.
- Yildiz S., Turkgeldi E., Angun B., Eraslan A., Urman B., Ata B. et al. Comparison of a novel flexible progestin primed ovarian stimulation protocol and the flexible gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol for assisted reproductive technology. Fertil. Steril. 2019; 112(4): 677-83. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.06.009.
- Zhu X., Ye H., Fu Y. Use of utrogestan during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in normally ovulating women undergoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatments in combination with a “freeze all” strategy: a randomized controlled dose-finding study of 100 mg versus 200 mg. Fertil. Steril. 2017; 107(2): 379-86. e4. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.10.030.
- Zhu X., Fu Y. Randomized, controlled pilot study of low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin administration beginning from the early follicular phase for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing ovarian stimulation using the progesterone protocol. Front. Endocrinol. (Lausanne). 2019; 10: 875. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00875.
- Wang N., Wang Y., Chen Q., Dong J., Tian H., Fu Y. et al. Luteal-phase ovarian stimulation vs conventional ovarian stimulation in patients with normal ovarian reserve treated for IVF: a large retrospective cohort study. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf). 2016; 84(5): 720-8. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cen.12983.
- Yu S., Long H., Chang H.Y., Liu Y., Gao H., Zhu J. et al. New application of dydrogesterone as a part of a progestin-primed ovarian stimulation protocol for IVF: a randomized controlled trial including 516 first IVF/ICSI cycles. Hum. Reprod. 2018; 33(2): 229-37. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dex367.
- Kuang Y., Chen Q., Fu Y., Wang Y., Hong Q., Lyu Q. et al. Medroxyprogesterone acetate is an effective oral alternative for preventing premature luteinizing hormone surges in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization. Fertil. Steril. 2015; 104(1): 62-70. e3. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.03.022.
- Zhu X., Ye H., Fu Y. Duphaston and human menopausal gonadotropin protocol in normally ovulatory women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation during in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatments in combination with embryo cryopreservation. Fertil. Steril. 2017; 108(3): 505-12. e2.https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.06.017.
Received 13.08.2020
Accepted 07.09.2020
About the Authors
Irina Ye. Korneeva, PhD/Med, professor, Head of the Scientific and Educational Center of Auxiliary Reproductive Technologies with a Clinical Department named after Frederick Paulsen, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation.4, Oparina str., Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation.
Alla I. Kovalchuk, PhD candidate, Academician V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation. Tel.: +7(999)999-40-47. E-mail: kovalchukalla27@mail.ru. 4, Oparina str., Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation.
For citation: Korneeva I.E., Kovalchuk A.I. Preventing the premature luteinizing hormone surge produced by gestagen in the modified ovarian stimulation protocol
in assisted reproductive technology programs.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020; 11: 39-43 (in Russian).
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2020.11.39-43