The significance of premature luteinization in an oocyte donation programme

Authors: Marco Melo, Marcos Meseguer, Nicolas Garrido, Ernesto Bosch, Antonio Pellicer, José Remohí

(Human Reproduction 2006; 21(6): 1503-1507)

BACKGROUND: Several evidences indicate that premature luteinization (PL) may affect IVF outcome. The primary end-point of the present study was to verify the effect of PL on the PR of our oocyte donation programme.

METHODS: PL was defined as serum P %u2265 1.2 ng/mL on the day of hCG. We analysed retrospectively 240 oocyte donation cycles in which 120 women donated twice, with PL in the first donation cycle and no PL in the following one, acting as its own control. Recipients (n= 240) were divided in two groups according to the presence of PL (n= 120) or not (n= 120). Both groups were compared regarding donor cycle parameters and recipient cycle outcome.

RESULTS: There was no difference in PR between the groups (55.7% vs 54.4%, respectively). The number of total oocytes (18.2 ± 0.6 vs 20.8 ± 0.6; p=0.003) and mature oocytes retrieved (16.9 ± 0.6 vs 19.4 ± 0.6; p= 0.005) were different among donors with P < 1.2 ng/ mL and PL, respectively. There were no differences between the oocyte recipients neither in fertilisation, cleavage, embryo division on day 3, blastocyst development nor fragmentation rates. The number of embryos transferred, number of embryos cryopreserved, implantation, and miscarriage rates were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: Premature luteinization does not appear to have a negative impact on ongoing preganancy rate in our oocyte donation programme.

KEYWORDS: controlled ovarian hyperstimulation/ embryo quality/ GnRH agonist/ oocyte donation programme/ premature luteinization.