Down-regulated Hormonally Controlled Cycles for Vitrification-warmed Blastocyst Transfers

Summary

Currently all patients that have freeze-all ICSI treatment cycles have the start of their FET cycle scheduled with the use of OCP. While an excellent pregnancy rate (75%) for the patients that have a blastocyst transfer has been maintained over time, 15% of started FET cycles are being cancelled because of premature luteinization, and the treatment (to transfer) takes approximately 89 days. The use of a Lucrin depot may reduce the number of cycles cancelled and reduce the treatment time to approximately 69 days. The use of no drugs and allowing the normal menstrual cycle to determine the time to start the FET cycle may suit some patients. Whether these benefits can be obtained while still maintaining the current FET pregnancy rate will be the main focus of the trial.

Timeline

Start

2014-12

Primary completion

2016-05

Completion

2016-06

Publications

• Background Gelbaya TA, Nardo LG, Hunter HR, Fitzgerald CT, Horne G, Pease EE, Brison DR, Lieberman BA. Cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in natural or down-regulated hormonally controlled cycles: a retrospective study. Fertil Steril. 2006 Mar;85(3):603-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.09.015.
• Background Hill MJ, Miller KA, Frattarelli JL. A GnRH agonist and exogenous hormone stimulation protocol has a higher live-birth rate than a natural endogenous hormone protocol for frozen-thawed blastocyst-stage embryo transfer cycles: an analysis of 1391 cycles. Fertil Steril. 2010 Feb;93(2):416-22. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.11.027. Epub 2009 Jan 26.
• Results Groenewoud ER, Cantineau AE, Kollen BJ, Macklon NS, Cohlen BJ. What is the optimal means of preparing the endometrium in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2013 Sep-Oct;19(5):458-70. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmt030. Epub 2013 Jul 2.

Drugs

Indications