The value of GnRH analogue therapy in IVF in women with unexplained infertility

Abstract

Seventy-six women with unexplained infertility, undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-embryo transfer), were selected for three different ovulation induction protocols. In group I, induction of ovulation was performed with pure follicle-stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotrophin/human chorionic gonadotrophin (pFSH/HMG/HCG). Group II patients were given a combined therapy consisting of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue, decapeptyl (DTRP6) followed by pFSH/HMG/HCG. In group III, patients underwent two IVF-embryo transfer cycles, serving as their own controls. The initial cycle was induced with pFSH/HMG/HCG while the second was stimulated using decapeptyl/pFSH/HMG/HCG. Significantly higher rates of fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.07, P less than 0.001, respectively) were achieved in group II patients to whom combined GnRH agonists and gonadotrophins were given. Furthermore, among group III patients, no pregnancies occurred during the initial IVF-embryo transfer cycles whereas a 23% pregnancy rate (P less than 0.001) was obtained after GnRH agonist therapy. Our results indicate that the combination of GnRH agonists and gonadotrophins is of value in cases of unexplained infertility. Further, larger studies must be performed before the true efficacy of this mode of therapy can be determined in women with unexplained infertility.