Effect of Long Protocol on the Outcome of In Vitro Fertilization-embryo Transfer in Patients with Endometriosis Compared with Prolonged Protocol

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of different down-regulation protocol on the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes in infertile patients with endometriosis (EMs).MethodsA retrospective case control study was performed. Totally 294 infertile patients with EMs were enrolled. And 109 patients (116 cycles) received prolonged protocol as the control, 185 patients (193 cycles) received long protocol as case group, all followed by standard controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). Response to gonadotropins, the fertilization rate, the cleavage rate, the implantation rate, the clinical pregnancy rate and the miscarriage rate were measured and analyzed between the two groups.ResultsA trend toward better ovarian response was observed in long protocol group. Higher fertilization rate, lower total dose of rFSH, shorter duration of stimulation and more endometrial thickness on the day of hCG injection were observed in long protocol group compared with those of prolonged protocol group, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). In addition, the clinical pregnancy rate, the cleavage rate and the implantation rate also had an increase trend in long protocol group compared with those of prolonged protocol group, but without significant differences.ConclusionLong protocol regimen before IVF-ET in patients with EMs resulted in a trend toward better ovarian response and higher clinical pregnancy rates than prolonged protocol regimen did.