Abstract
Context: Optimal timing of hCG administration is a crucial step for successful IVF. Currently used standard hCG administration timing is not always practically possible due to weekends break or other reasons. Sometimes hCG needs to be administrated earlier or later than standard timing. Aim: To find out whether earlier or later hCG administration gives better IVF outcome. Setting and Design: A retrospective study on patients who underwent conventional IVF treatment. Methods and Material: Based on hCG timing, the patients were divided into three groups: the early hCG group where the hCG was given when less than three follicles ≥ 17 mm; the standard hCG group where the hCG was given when three or more follicles ≥ 17 mm; and the late hCG group where the hCG was given 1 to 3 days after the standard timing. The number of retrieved mature oocytes, the fertilization rate, the number of good quality embryos, the pregnancy rate and the live birth rate were compared among three groups. Statistical Analysis: x2 test, fisher exact test and Student t-test were used. Results: in total, 289 patients, 305 IVF cycles and 2784 oocytes were analyzed. The late hCG group has significantly larger number of MII oocytes, fertilized oocytes and good quality embryos per IVF cycle, when compared with the early hCG group. The fertilization rate, the pregnancy rate and the live birth rate per IVF cycle were similar among the three groups. Conclusion: Although the delayed administration of hCG did not favor IVF outcome per IVF cycle, the cumulative pregnancy rate is likely to be improved with consideration of higher yield of good quality embryos.
Highlights
Optimal timing of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration is a crucial step for successful in-vitro fertilization (IVF)
Based on human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) timing, the patients were divided into three groups: the early hCG group where the hCG was given when less than three follicles ≥ 17 mm; the standard hCG group where the hCG was given when three or more follicles ≥ 17 mm; and the late hCG group where the hCG was given 1 to 3 days after the standard timing
Except more agonist-treatments in the standard and the late hCG group when compared with the early group, no significant differences are seen among the three groups regarding patients’ age, the causes of infertility, the embryo transferring timing, the duration of FSH stimulation or the thickness of uterus endometrium
Summary
Optimal timing of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration is a crucial step for successful in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Most reproduction centers follow a commonly accepted guideline, that is, hCG is given when three or more follicles ≥ 17 mm are observed under ultrasound. This “standard” hCG administration timing, is not always practically possible. A few studies have looked at the effects of early or late hCG administration, but the results are controversial [1,2,3,4,5,6] Most of these studies focus on the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist treatment [1,3,4,6]. We compared early, late and standard hCG timing, and analyzed the effect of the different timing with respect to the number of retrieved mature oocytes, the fertilization rate, the number of good quality embryos, the pregnancy rate and the live birth rate
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
