Effectiveness of Soft Stimulation Protocol, Compared with Conventional GnRH Antagonist Multiple dose Protocol in Patients Undergoing Controlled Ovarian Stimulation with Intrauterine Insemination. |
Chung Hoon Kim, Hyuk Jae Kang, So Ra Kim, Gyun Ho Jeon, Hyang Ah Lee, Sung Hoon Kim, Hee Dong Chae, Byung Moon Kang |
1Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea. |
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Abstract |
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of soft stimulation protocol using GnRH antagonist/clomiphene citrate (CC)/recombinant FSH (rFSH) in patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) with intrauterine insemination (IUI), compared with GnRH antagonist multiple dose protocol (MDP) using GnRH antagonist/rFSH. METHODS: Eighty infertile women were randomized to soft stimulation protocol group (n=40) or GnRH antagonist MDP group (n=40). In both groups, IUI was performed 36~40 hours after hCG injection. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, chi-square test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. RESULTS: Total dose and days of rFSH required for COS were significantly fewer in soft stimulation protocol group (p<0.001, p<0.001). A premature LH surge did not occur in any patients of both groups. Clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Soft stimulation protocol provides comparable pregnancy rates to GnRH antagonist MDP despite fewer total dose and days of rFSH, and so can become one of the patient-friendly, cost-effective alternatives for infertile patients undergoing COS with IUI. |
Key Words:
GnRH antagonist; Soft stimulation protocol; Controlled ovarian stimulation; Intrauterine insemination |
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