Abstract
Objective: Limited data identify detrimental influences of aggressive use of gonadotropins (G) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH); the underlying mechanisms however remain unclear. We report on the relationship between G dose and in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle parameters (ovarian response, endometrial thickness [EMT]) and cycle outcome (implantation rate [IR] and clinical pregnancy [CP] rate) in a cohort of women undergoing IVF. Methods: Retrospective analysis of fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses assessed relationship between G dose and outcomes of interest. Results: Higher G dose related positively with advancing age (P < .001) and inversely with EMT (P < .001). The overall CP rate was 30%. Significantly lower IR (.003) and CP rate (.002) were observed across increasing tertiles of G dose. Increasing G dose was identified as an independent negative predictor of EMT after adjusting for age, COH protocol and duration, infertility diagnosis, and ovarian response (P = .016). Adjusting for age, suppression protocol (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist vs antagonist), infertility diagnoses, EMT, quality, and cleavage of ET, lower G dose was an independent positive predictor of CP rate (odds ratio for CP rate was 1.57 for G dose in middle compared to the highest G dose quartile (95% confidence interval 1.09-2.24). Stratified analyses identified detrimental associations of higher G dose with CP rate to be relevant in women aged 35 years and younger. Conclusions: Our analyses suggest detrimental influences of higher G dose on the endometrium and confirm the previously reported adverse association between higher G dose and IVF outcome. Gentler COH regimens may be of particular benefit in women aged ≤35 years.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.