Progesterone Primed Endometrial Protocol Versus Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Antagonist Protocol in Assisted Reproductive Treatments

Utilizing the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) has exhibited a substantial rise within the last years, emerging as a crucial modern medicine component with reliable results.

The utilized protocols for endometrial preparation in ART are aimed at maximizing the treatments' success. Typically, utilizing gonadotropin-stimulating hormone (GnRH) antagonists or agonists remains involved for preventing an early luteinizing hormone (LH) peak along ovulation prior to oocytes retrieval.

The GnRH-antagonist (GnRH-a) protocol is favored by many clinicians as well as patients due to its simplicity, convenience, flexibility, and absence of functional ovarian cysts or "menopausal" symptoms linked to the agonist protocol. Nevertheless, some RCTs' findings address that the antagonist protocol yields a reduced oocytes' number. Additionally, it exhibits lower pregnancy rates as opposed to the agonist extended therapy.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 21 to 40 years.
• A basal antral follicle count (AFC) <6.
• All patients had to have a body mass index between 18.5 to 29.9 kg/m2.
• Undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles.
• With previous poor response to conventional prolonged therapy utilizing GnRH agonists (retrieving three oocytes).

Exclusion criteria

• Cycles with fresh embryo transfer.
• Transfers of cleavage embryos (d2/d3).
• Embryos from cycles with preimplantation genetic screening.
• Cryopreservation of oocytes.
• Oocyte donation cycles.
• Cycles that produced embryos but without et at the time of the analysis.