Luteal phase oestradiol administration in ovarian stimulation cycles with GnRH antagonist is comparable to the GnRH agonist (long) protocol.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of GnRH antagonist with luteal phase estradiol administration to GnRH agonist cycles, long protocol.

METHODS: 55 IVF-ICSI patients received oestradiol in the luteal phase of the cycle, before a cycle with GnRH antagonist. Fifty-five patients submitted to IVF-ICSI with the use of agonist were allocated, age matched, as a control group (historical control). The primary outcome was the number of retrieved oocytes.

RESULTS: Patients were similar in terms of clinical characteristics. No differences were found in the number of oocytes retrieved (study group, 8.1 +/- 4.7; control group, 7.4 +/- 4.5) or in oocyte quality.

CONCLUSIONS: We clearly demonstrated that the effectiveness of GnRH antagonist when combined with luteal phase estradiol is comparable to GnRH agonist cycles.