leuprolide and Abortion--Spontaneous

Although the use of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) for ovarian stimulation in assisted reproduction has gained widespread popularity, a number of major issues regarding their use remain unresolved. Some of these issues are examined in the light of recent developments. The routine use of LHRH agonists produces significantly higher pregnancy and livebirth rates compared with conventional methods of ovarian stimulation. A number of prospective, randomized studies have shown that the long protocol of LHRH agonist administration is superior to the short and ultrashort protocols, and it appears that early follicular phase initiation of the long protocol may be particularly beneficial. Another major advantage of the long protocol of LHRH agonist administration is that, with its use, precise timing of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration is not important. It would, therefore, appear that the routine use of LHRH agonists has both medical as well as practical advantages.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Clinical Protocols; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Leuprolide; Menotropins; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Time Factors

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Animals; Binding Sites; Brain; Corpus Luteum; Cyclic AMP; Embryo Implantation, Delayed; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Genitalia, Female; Genitalia, Male; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Granulosa Cells; Hormones; Humans; Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; Labor, Obstetric; Leuprolide; Leydig Cells; Male; Ovarian Follicle; Ovary; Ovulation; Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; Placenta; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prolactin; Sexual Maturation; Species Specificity; Testis

To determine the effects of addition of different dosages of gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) to routine luteal phase support (LPS) on implantation and pregnancy rates.. Three hundred infertile couples who were treated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) following controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) with long luteal GnRH agonist protocol were enrolled. All women received 600 mg/day vaginal micronized progesterone plus 4 mg 17β estradiol for LPS starting from the day of oocyte retrieval. Patients (n=300) were randomized into three treatment groups. Group A (n=100) received leuprolide acetate 1 mg s.c. injection 3 days after ET in addition to routine LPS. Group B (n=100) received two sequential doses of leuprolide acetate 1 mg s.c. injections 3 and 6 days after ET in addition to routine LPS. Control group (n=100) received only the routine LPS.. A total of 279 patients completed the study. The groups were comparable in terms of baseline demographic parameters including age, duration of infertility and day 3 levels of FSH and estradiol. The cycle parameters of the groups were also comparable regarding the E2 level on day of hCG, number of retrieved oocytes, number of day 3 embryos, number of embryos transferred, and endometrial thickness on both days of OPU and ET. The implantation rates were similar in between the Groups A, B, and control group (20.7% and 25.8% vs. 13.3%, respectively; P=.099). The clinical pregnancy rates and miscarriage rates were similar in between the groups. The ongoing pregnancy rates were 27.4% in control group, 36% in Group A and 42.9% in Group B (P=.093). The OHSS rates were comparable in between the groups. The multiple pregnancy rates were significantly higher in Groups A and B than in control group (12% and 17.9% vs. 4.2%, respectively; P=.014).. The implantation, clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy and multiple pregnancy rates seem to be increased with the addition of GnRH-a to routine luteal phase support.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Embryo Implantation; Embryo Transfer; Estradiol; Female; Fertility Agents, Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Leuprolide; Luteal Phase; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Pregnancy, Multiple; Progesterone; Prospective Studies; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Young Adult

To compare the effects of depot and daily forms of GnRH analogs in IVF programs.. One hundred seventeen patients undergoing IVF, with no severe male factor, were randomized between two treatment groups. Pituitary desensitization was obtained in group 1 (60 patients) with a single IM injection of leuprorelin (3.75 mg), and in group 2 (57 patients) with buserelin (0.3 mg SC twice daily). In a subgroup of 10 patients (5 for the depot form and 5 for the daily form) several GnRH tests were performed to investigate pituitary desensitization.. No differences were found in the time to reach desensitization. Resumption of pituitary activity occurred in 7 days with the daily form and in about 2 months with the depot form. No significant differences were found in the stimulation pattern, oocyte quality, percentage of fertilization. The pregnancy rate per transfer was slightly, but not significantly, better in the depot group (29.4% vs 25.9%). Implantation rate (11.9% vs 12.3%) and the percentage of miscarriages (26.6% vs 28.5%) were similar.. Depot and daily forms of GnRH analogs are equally effective in superovulation induction for IVF. Considering improved patient compliance and preference, depot forms are advantageous.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Buserelin; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Humans; Infertility, Female; Injections, Subcutaneous; Leuprolide; Luteal Phase; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Pituitary Gland, Anterior; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Superovulation; Treatment Outcome

Leuprolide acetate was used in 189 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Patients were allocated prospectively into two groups: In group A (96 cycles), leuprolide acetate was started on the 2nd menstrual cycle day of the actual IVF attempt. In group B (93 cycles), leuprolide acetate was started on the 3rd luteal phase day of the preceding IVF cycle. Ovulation was induced with a combination of pure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG), starting on or before the 5th cycle day, respectively. Leuprolide acetate and gonadotropins were continued until the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. Follicular aspiration was carried out either by laparoscopy or by transvaginal ultrasound guidance. Group A required a lower number of FSH and hMG ampules than group B; nevertheless, there was no difference in the number of follicles, percentage of preovulatory oocytes or fertilization rate between the groups. The number of embryos transferred was 3.3 and 3.4, respectively. A significantly higher pregnancy rate was observed in group A (40.6% versus 27.7%) and a lower miscarriage rate (22.8% versus 36%) than in group B. In short, this study suggests that there is no need to administer leuprolide acetate routinely during the luteal phase of the preceding IVF cycle.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Therapy, Combination; Estradiol; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Follicular Phase; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Hormones; Humans; Leuprolide; Luteal Phase; Menotropins; Oocytes; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Prospective Studies

This study investigated the efficacy of GnRH agonists concomitantly with transient aromatase inhibitor and tranexamic acid to treat women with uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) associated with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) to preserve fertility and determine reproductive outcome.. This was a prospective cohort study in a tertiary centre. Doppler ultrasound demonstrated AVM in 19 women with AUB 1-28 weeks following spontaneous or therapeutic abortion and in one woman 4 years after normal pregnancy while taking an oral contraceptive. On the basis of experience from the first three cases, 17 women were treated with tranexamic acid (1 g three times daily orally for 5 days), a GnRH agonist (3.75-11.25 mg, for 1-3 months), plus an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole 2.5 mg once daily for 5days) with the initial injection of GnRH agonist. Two women required blood transfusion, and one required uterine tamponade with Foley catheter balloon in the first 48 hours to control heavy bleeding (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2).. All 20 AVMs resolved within 1-3 months of treatment. Of 16 women who attempted pregnancy, all (100%), including two who had uterine artery embolization (one after hysteroscopic septoplasty), conceived spontaneously with 18 live births. Two women are using contraception (one taking an oral contraceptive, one using a levonorgestrel intrauterine system), and one 40-year-old is not using contraception. One woman had hysteroscopic endometrial ablation followed by vaginal hysterectomy for AUB at 1 and 2 years later.. A GnRH agonist in combination with transient aromatase inhibitor and tranexamic acid is an effective management strategy to treat and maintain reproduction in women with AVMs associated with AUB.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Antifibrinolytic Agents; Aromatase Inhibitors; Arteriovenous Fistula; Arteriovenous Malformations; Blood Transfusion; Cohort Studies; Female; Fertility; Fertility Agents, Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Goserelin; Humans; Letrozole; Leuprolide; Prospective Studies; Tranexamic Acid; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Uterine Artery; Uterine Artery Embolization; Uterine Balloon Tamponade; Uterine Hemorrhage; Uterus

Studies have suggested that supplemental LH improves outcomes in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. In this retrospective review, an additional 150 IU of LH activity did not improve ART outcomes in women undergoing a second round of IVF/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) after an initial failed cycle using 600 IU of gonadotropins.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fertility Agents, Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Infertility, Female; Leuprolide; Luteinizing Hormone; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Recombinant Proteins; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Failure

This study evaluated women with a high body mass index (BMI) (>40 kg/m(2)) and low BMI (<18 kg/m(2)) undergoing assisted reproduction treatment and determined whether the type of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue used has an impact on cycle parameters and outcome. The study analysed 65 women with high BMI and 118 with low BMI. In the former group, polycystic ovarian syndrome was significantly more prevalent in the agonist long protocol (ALP) group (P=0.01) and gonadotrophin consumption was lower, peak oestradiol concentrations and total number of oocytes retrieved were higher in the ALP group compared with the antagonist (ANT) group. Implantation rate (IR), pregnancy rate (PR) per embryo transfer and early pregnancy loss rate (EPLR) were similar in both stimulation groups, with overall rates of 21.6%, 55.4% and 44.4%, respectively. In women with low BMI, peak oestradiol concentrations, total oocytes retrieved, mature oocytes and transferred embryos were higher in the ALP group compared with ANT group. IR, PR/embryo transfer and EPLR were similar in both groups, with overall rates of 24.3%, 52.5% and 16.1%, respectively. In all patients, no difference was found between ALP and ANT protocols concerning treatment outcome. Contrary to the reasonable EPLR observed in women with low BMI, the high rate found in women with high BMI is remarkable.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Body Mass Index; Embryo Implantation; Embryo Transfer; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Humans; Leuprolide; Ovulation Induction; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Retrospective Studies

Acceptable rates of fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and early pregnancy loss were achieved in high responders after triggering final oocyte maturation with a combination of leuprolide acetate and hCG (1,000 to 2,500 IU). These findings, along with the absence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, suggest that this dual trigger is safe and effective for oocyte maturation in patients with significant risk factors for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Drug Administration Schedule; Embryo Implantation; Embryo Transfer; Female; Fertility Agents, Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Hormone Antagonists; Humans; Infertility; Leuprolide; Oocyte Retrieval; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome; Ovulation Induction; Pilot Projects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Retrospective Studies; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Treatment Outcome

The effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) on uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVM) is not well known.. A 37-year-old woman with a previous cesarean was diagnosed as having a uterine AVM after a spontaneous abortion with massive vaginal bleeding. The AVM decreased in size from 5.1 x 3.8 cm to 1.4 x 1.0 cm after 6 months of therapy with a GnRHa. Uterine artery embolization conducted after the GnRH therapy resulted in complete disappearance of the AVM. The patient's menstrual cycles and ovulation resumed 3 months after uterine artery embolization.. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy reduced the size of the uterine AVM. Thus, GnRHa therapy may be useful for uterine AVM in situations where uterine artery embolization must be postponed.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Arteriovenous Malformations; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Embolization, Therapeutic; Female; Humans; Leuprolide; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pregnancy; Ultrasonography; Uterine Hemorrhage; Uterus

Women with diminished ovarian reserve (OR) have a high rate of pregnancy loss. The relationship between hormonal OR tests and pregnancy loss has been studied previously, but, to our knowledge, that between the antral follicle count (AFC) and pregnancy loss has not. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether OR tests, including the AFC, can predict pregnancy loss in women achieving pregnancy by means of in vitro fertilization (IVF), and also to compare their predictive value. All women underwent a fresh cycle of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with a long protocol with mid-luteal start of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog, and antral follicles were counted on cycle day 3 following down-regulation. Pregnancy losses up to 12 gestational weeks (n=28) were compared with apparently healthy deliveries (n=34) in this retrospective analysis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of consecutive pregnancies (n=71) was performed to analyze the optimum cut-off value for the significantly different OR tests. Women with a pregnancy loss had a lower AFC than those with healthy deliveries. Age and hormonal OR tests were comparable between groups. The optimum cut-off value for the AFC to predict pregnancy loss was 7.5. AFC may be a useful tool for predicting pregnancy loss in IVF pregnancies.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; Embryo Transfer; Estradiol; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gestational Age; Humans; Leuprolide; Odds Ratio; Ovarian Follicle; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Retrospective Studies; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Ultrasonography

We aimed to determine if midluteal GnRH agonist (GnRHa) use prior to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) results in uniform progesterone and androgen suppression and whether elevations of these hormones occurring early in follicular development may adversely effect the outcome of IVF-ET.. Forty-four COH cycles using midluteal GnRHa were evaluated. Serum gonadotropins (LH and FSH) and gonadal steroids (E2, A, P4, and T) were measured after 10 days of GnRHa administration [cycle day 31 (CD 31)] and again on the day of hCG administration, following COH. Cycle outcomes evaluated were the number of oocytes retrieved, morphologic grade, fertilization, implantation, pregnancy, and spontaneous abortion rates.. Endogenous serum FSH was uniformly suppressed (6.32 +/- 0.47 IU/L) on CD 31, however, LH was not (23.76 +/- 0.76 IU/L). Five and four tenths percent of cycles demonstrated low-level P4 elevations (> or = 0.9 ng/ml), 24.4% demonstrated serum androstenedione levels > or = 600 pg/ml, and 39% of cycles were characterized by serum T levels > or = 200 pg/ml despite evidence of E2 suppression (< or = 30 pg/ml) and the absence of follicular growth by sonography. LH levels were not predictive of incomplete P4 or androgen suppression. Elevations of either P4, A, or T occurring early in the follicular phase were not found to correlate with an impairment in clinical cycle outcome.. Midluteal GnRHa use prior to COH may result in incomplete suppression of circulating progresterone and androgens. However, these relative elevations, occurring early in the development of the follicular cohort, did not appear to affect IVF cycle outcome adversely.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Androgens; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Estradiol; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Gonadotropins; Humans; Incidence; Leuprolide; Luteal Phase; Luteinizing Hormone; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Progesterone; Prospective Studies; Superovulation; Testosterone

To examine the incidence of premature luteinization in individuals undergoing hMG with IUI therapy, the association between premature luteinization, cycle fecundity, and pregnancy outcome, and to determine if the selective use of leuprolide acetate (LA) in women demonstrating premature luteinization improves pregnancy outcome in subsequent hMG with IUI cycles.. Retrospective analysis of superovulation cycles from January 1990 until December 1991 at the University of Connecticut Health Center.. All women with ovulatory function undergoing hMG superovulation with IUI.. All patients were tested for evidence of premature luteinization. Those demonstrating premature luteinization were started on LA in the luteal phase in their subsequent hMG with IUI cycle.. Peak serum E2, the number of mature preovulatory follicles, the number of ampules of hMG, days of hMG therapy, cycle fecundity, and spontaneous abortion rate.. Thirty-three percent of all hMG with IUI patients showed evidence of premature luteinization, with premature luteinization occurring in 22.2% of conception cycles and 37.4% of nonconception cycles. For those women who demonstrated premature luteinization in their conception cycle, 90.0% of the pregnancies ended with either spontaneous abortion or were biochemical in nature compared with 44.3% in the cycles without evidence of premature luteinization. Cycle fecundity was 11.1% in patients demonstrating premature luteinization compared with 26.3% for patients without premature luteinization. All women demonstrating premature luteinization and not conceiving were placed on LA in the luteal phase and had a subsequent cycle fecundity of 18.9% with the percent pregnancy wastage being significantly less (33.3% versus 90.0%) when LA was used.. Premature luteinization is a common occurrence during hMG therapy and is associated with decreased cycle fecundity and an increased incidence of spontaneous abortion and biochemical pregnancies. The selective use of LA in those individuals demonstrating premature luteinization results in a significant increase in the percent of women conceiving a viable pregnancy.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Corpus Luteum; Female; Fertilization; Humans; Incidence; Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; Leuprolide; Luteal Phase; Male; Menotropins; Pregnancy; Retrospective Studies; Superovulation; Time Factors

Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of age on endometrial receptivity and to compare success rates for oocyte donation among groups with differing primary diagnoses.. This was a retrospective analysis of 300 consecutively attempted oocyte donation cycles.. The setting was the in vitro fertilization program at the University of Southern California.. Recipients were divided into groups according to age: Group I, < 30 years (n = 8); Group II, 30-39 years (n = 59); Group III, 40-49 years (n = 107); and Group IV, 50-59 years (n = 18). Additionally, indications for treatment were divided into Classes A-G according to a primary diagnosis given to each patient and included premature ovarian failure (n = 44), surgical castration (n = 9), genetic disease carrier (n = 12), transitional menopause (n = 27), natural menopause (n = 30), multiple IVF failures (n = 62), and postchemotherapy (n = 8). Recipients received oral micronized estradiol and intramuscular progesterone. Oocytes were donated by fertile young women utilizing ovarian hyperstimulation with menopausal gonadotropins.. There were no significant differences among groups or classes related to either the number of oocytes received or the number of embryos transferred per cycle. Rates for embryo implantation and resorption and the clinical and ongoing or delivered pregnancy rates were similarly not different among patients except for women who previously received chemotherapy, where a significantly elevated rate of spontaneous abortion was noted P < 0.05).. The establishment of pregnancy utilizing oocyte donation is not adversely affected by the chronological age of the recipient, inferring that the age-related decline in fertility is due primarily to oocyte aging, and not to loss of endometrial receptivity. Also, prior exposure to chemotherapy may alter endometrial integrity and lead to greater pregnancy wastage in women receiving donated embryos.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Administration, Oral; Adult; Age Factors; Antineoplastic Agents; California; Drug Administration Schedule; Embryo Implantation; Estradiol; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Fetal Resorption; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Humans; Infertility, Female; Injections, Intramuscular; Injections, Subcutaneous; Leuprolide; Maternal Age; Menopause; Menotropins; Middle Aged; Oocyte Donation; Ovariectomy; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, High-Risk; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency; Progesterone; Retrospective Studies; Universities

From February 1986 to June 1989 445 infertile couples were treated with a total of 710 treatment cycles involving laparoscopic gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). The median age of the female partner was 33.5 years (range, 24 to 49 years) and the median duration of infertility was 4 years (range, 2 to 20 years). The final outcome of all 217 clinical pregnancies is known. There were 150 live births among which all but one baby survived, comprising 112 singleton births, 28 twin births, nine triplet births and one quadruplet birth. There were no still births, but there were two premature, multiple live births (one triplet, one quadruplet) among which no babies survived the neonatal period. Overall, 40 of the 152 potentially viable pregnancies were multiple (26.3%). Three of 206 potentially viable babies were born with congenital anomalies (1.5%). There were 50 clinical spontaneous abortions (24.8% of uterine pregnancies), one termination of pregnancy for Down's syndrome, and 14 ectopic pregnancies rate was 30.6% per laparoscopy and, among 740 initiated cycles, a live and surviving birth-per-initiated-cycle rate of 20.2%, or 33.7% to date per couple entering the programme. The 710 laparscopies resulted in two serious complications (0.3%), one of which required laparotomy. Eight other patients were admitted to hospital for rest and observation because of painful ovarian enlargement in the luteal phase. The total inpatient admission rate was 1.4%. Outpatient laparoscopic GIFT under general anaesthesia is a safe and effective procedure when conventional treatment for infertility has been unsuccessful.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Ambulatory Care; Congenital Abnormalities; Female; Follicular Phase; Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Hormones; Humans; Incidence; Laparoscopy; Leuprolide; Luteal Phase; Maternal Age; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, High-Risk; Progesterone; Prospective Studies