Single-dose administration of a short-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist does not affect cycle outcome in frozen–thawed embryo transfer cycles

Abstract

Objective This prospective study aimed to assess the effect of short-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) administration on pregnancy outcomes in frozen–thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Methods Patients who planned to have FET in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (China) were recruited for this study and randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in the experimental group (n = 460) received triptorelin acetate on the day of embryo transfer along with routine luteal support. Patients in the control group (n = 433) only received luteal support. One dose (0.1 mg) of a short-acting GnRHa was administered on the day of blastocyte transfer. The rates for clinical pregnancy, biochemical pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy were compared between the groups. Results There were no significant differences in the number and quality of blastocytes transferred between the two groups. In the experimental and control groups, the clinical pregnancy rate was 56.3% and 50.58%, the biochemical pregnancy rate was 15.78% and 18.94%, and the median implantation rate was 39.98% and 38.01%, respectively, with no significant difference between the groups. Biochemical pregnancy and abortion and the ectopic pregnancy rate were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion In FET cycles, a GnRHa does not affect the pregnancy outcome.