INTRODUCTION The aim was to compare the efficacy of long-acting and short-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists by long protocol on embryo quality, endometrial thickness and pregnancy rate in in vitro fertilization. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this retrospective study, long-term pituitary downregulation, achieved with long- and short-acting GnRH agonists (GnRHa), was performed for...

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is one of the major complications in artificial reproductive technology, especially in high responders. Exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for triggering final oocyte maturation during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) is primarily responsible for the pathogenesis of early-onset OHSS. Several strategies were offered to prevent OHSS, includin...

BACKGROUND Blood flow in the corpus luteum (CL) is closely related to luteal function. It is unclear how luteal blood flow is regulated. Standardized ovarian-stimulation protocol with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa long protocol) causes luteal phase defect because it drastically suppresses serum LH levels. Examining luteal blood flow in the patient undergoing GnRHa long protoco...

We studied 98 in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients with a high basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; >6.5 IU/l) concentration on day 3 who were treated with a low dose gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) protocol and who had received in the previous 6 months a long protocol with GnRHa in a depot formula. The evaluation was made using the previous IVF cycle of the same patient as...

The luteal phase of all stimulated in vitro fertilization/intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles is disrupted, which makes luteal phase support (LPS) mandatory. The cause of the disruption is thought to be the multifollicular development achieved during ovarian stimulation which results in supraphysiological concentrations of steroids se- creted by a high number of corpora lutea du...

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) still remains a life-threatening complication of in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF), keeping patients and especially those, who previously experienced OHSS, from attempting infertility treatment and childbearing. The recent implementation of four new modalities: the GnRH antagonist protocol, GnRH agonist (GnRHa) triggering of ovulation, blastocyst tr...

Many researchers have discussed fecundity on a per patient or per ovarian follicle basis. In contrast, this study was undertaken on a per ovary basis, and tests the hypothesis that there is a relationship between the fecundity of the bilateral ovaries in an individual patient and the incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells. The two ovaries of 10 women undergoing ovulation induction for in-vitro ...

Recently, several new promising modifications have been introduced to clinical practice that may simplify and optimize IVF outcome. In the present opinion paper we present a simplified approach to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol (COH), which combines the benefits of the ultrashort flare GnRH agonist/GnRH antagonist protocol and the personalized tailored mode and timing of ovulation...

Objectives: There are various ovarian stimulation protocols for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Particularly for Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) patients an optimized protocol of pituitary FSH and LH down regulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) medication without complications is still a challenge. Methods: We retrospectively compared the primary endpoint of an ultra-long an...

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been used as a surrogate for the mid-cycle LH surge for several decades. Due to structural and biological similarities with LH, hCG binds to and activates the same receptor - the LH/hCG receptor. However, despite the fact that hCG effectively secures final oocyte maturation and ovulation, its use as a surrogate for LH has got several drawbacks - first and ...