Premature luteinization and in vitro fertilization outcome in gonadotropin/gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

ObjectiveTo determine the incidence of premature luteinization in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with exogenous gonadotropin/GnRH antagonist (GnRH-a); to compare clinical outcomes in patients with and without premature luteinization.DesignRetrospective case series.SettingIVF clinic.Patient(s)Thirty-five treatment cycles in 30 patients with PCOS.Intervention(s)Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotropin/GnRH-a protocol.Main Outcome Measure(s)Premature luteinization defined as a P concentration of ≥1.3 ng/mL on the day of hCG administration; number of oocytes and two pronuclei (2PN) embryos; implantation and clinical pregnancy rates (PR).Result(s)The incidence of premature luteinization was 28%. Compared with those without premature luteinization, patients with premature luteinization had a higher number of oocytes retrieved (24.1 ± 13.3 vs. 12.0 ± 5.9) and greater number of mature oocytes (19.7 ± 11.7 vs. 9.5 ± 4.5), respectively. The number of good quality embryos and embryos transferred was not significantly different between groups. Although implantation rates (56% vs. 40%) and clinical PRs (36% vs. 30%) were higher in patients without premature luteinization, the differences were not statistically significant.Conclusion(s)The patients with PCOS with premature luteinization had a higher number of oocytes retrieved and mature oocytes, and similar clinical PRs as patients with PCOS without premature luteinization.