Does the addition of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist improve the pregnancy rate in intrauterine insemination? A prospective controlled trial

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the use of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist can improve pregnancy and live-birth rates during superovulation and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Subjects and methods. In this prospective study, which started in January 2004 and finished in October 2006, women aged 18–39 years underwent 500 cycles of superovulation/IUI with (n = 254) and without (n = 246) GnRH agonist.

Setting. Saudi Center for Assisted Reproduction, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Results. There were no significant differences with regard to patient demographics between the studied groups. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the live-birth, ongoing and clinical pregnancy rates per cycle for patients who received GnRH agonist and patients who did not receive GnRH agonist.

Conclusion. Superovulation/IUI cycles using GnRH agonist produce similar pregnancy rates to superovulation/IUI cycles without using GnRH agonist.

Keywords:

• Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation
• gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist
• intrauterine insemination
• pregnancy rate