Administration of GnRH Antagonist to Oocyte Donation Recipients

This was a prospective and randomized study undertaken between January 2004 and December 2007. One hundred patients with an indication for oocyte donation with functioning ovaries and IVF with or without intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) were recruited for the study. After assignment to IVF or IVF/ICSI randomization was performed to 1 of the 2 treatment groups (GnRH agonist or GnRH antagonist during endometrial preparation in oocyte donation recipients) using a computed-generated randomization schedule assigned via numbered sealed envelopes.

In our program, we used excess oocytes from IVF that were voluntarily donated by patients after informed consent.

The indications for oocyte donation were reduced ovarian reserve (59%), recurrent IVF failures (21%), premature ovarian failure (16%), and genetic anomaly (4%).

This study was performed according to the declaration of Helsinki and the European Community note on Good Clinical Practice for trials on medical products in the European Community (CPMP Working Party on Efficacy of Medical Products, 1990). Furthermore, the local ethics committee approved the study protocol, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18-34 years
• Body mass index between 19-30 kg/m2;
• History of regular menstrual cycles, ranging from 25-35 days
• No relevant systemic disease (all patients were screened for hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency viruses I and II, syphylis, and vaginal infection), genetic disease, severe endometriosis or pelvic inflamatory disease
• No more than two previous IVF cycles; and
• No previous IVF cycles with poor response (less than three oocytes in a previous IVF cycle) or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients without inclusion criteria.