Oral contraceptive pretreatment and half dose of ganirelix does not excessively suppress LH and may be an excellent choice for scheduling IUI cycles.

Purpose: To assess the effects of using a reduced dose of ganirelix with oral contraceptive pretreatment in a pilot study of COH using pure FSH for intrauterine insemination (IUI) METHODS: Patients received oral contraceptive (OC; 30 microg ethinyl estradiol/150 microg desogestrel) for 14-21 days and rFSH (50-225 IU/day SC) was started on day 4 after OC discontinuation. Ganirelix acetate (125 microg/day) was started with a lead follicle diameter of 14 mm.

Results: Of the 25 subjects who started oral contraceptives, one was cancelled due to an excessive response, and one subject was not included in the analysis because she did not receive ganirelix until the lead follicle was 18 mm.

Role of vascular endothelial cell growth factor in Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotropins is followed by Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in some women. An unidentified capillary permeability factor from the ovary has been implicated, and vascular endothelial cell growth/permeability factor (VEGF) is a candidate protein. Follicular fluids (FF) from 80 women who received hormonal induction for infertility were studied.

Assisted hatching reduces the age-related decline in IVF outcome in women younger than age 43 without increasing miscarriage or monozygotic twinning.

Purpose: Our purpose was to examine the benefits of assisted hatching in our program and to determine whether the procedure increases the implantation of nonviable embryos or monozygotic twinning.

Methods: Consecutive in vitro fertilization cycles using assisted hatching were compared with historical controls. The impact of assisted hatching was analyzed according to the woman's age.

Cornual pregnancies in patients with prior salpingectomy undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Objective: To examine the frequency of cornual pregnancy in patients with prior salpingectomy undergoing IVF.

Design: Review.

Setting: Private fertility practice.

Successful pregnancies with unstimulated cycle oocyte donation using an antagonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

We achieved two ongoing pregnancies in five older recipients with natural cycle oocyte donation from five young donors using a GnRH antagonist, with hMG and hCG to complete oocyte maturation. This provides a new alternative to ovarian stimulation for both oocyte donation and routine IVF.