Prospective, randomized, controlled study of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer with a single dose of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) antagonist (cetrorelix) or a depot formula of an LH-RH agonist (triptorelin).

Objective: To confirm the value of a single dose of 3 mg of cetrorelix in preventing the occurrence of premature LH surges.

Design: Multicenter randomized, prospective study.

Setting: Reproductive medicine units.

Patient(s): Infertile patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF-ET.

Intervention(s): A single dose of 3 mg of cetrorelix (Cetrotide; ASTA Medica, Frankfurt, Germany) (115 patients) was administered in the late follicular phase. A depot preparation of triptorelin (Decapeptyl; Ipsen-Biotech, Paris, France) was chosen as a control agent (39 patients). Ovarian stimulation was conducted with hMG (Menogon; Ferring, Kiel, Germany).

Main Outcome Measure(s): Premature LH surges (LH level >10 IU/L), progesterone level greater than 1 ng/L, and IVF results.

Result(s): No LH surge occurred after cetrorelix administration. The patients in the cetrorelix group had a lower number of oocytes and embryos. The percentage of mature oocytes and fertilization rates were similar in both groups, and the pregnancy rates were not statistically different. The length of stimulation, number of hMG ampules administered, and occurrence of the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome were lower in the cetrorelix group. Tolerance of cetrorelix was excellent.

Conclusion(s): A cetrorelix single-dose protocol prevented LH surges in all patients studied. It compares favorably to the "long protocol" and could be a protocol of choice in IVF-ET.