Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists on intrauterine insemination cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination (COS/IUI) often face the risk of premature luteinization, which may result in lower pregnancy rate and higher miscarriage rate. This review was performed to identify if adjuvant treatment with GnRH antagonist (GnRH-ant) could effectively improve the clinical outcome of patients with PCOS undergoing COS/IUI. A literature search was conducted on the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library databases. Two randomized controlled trials were included in this review, enrolling a total of 333 cycles. The patients who received GnRH-ant treatment had lower progesterone levels on the hCG day and a reduced premature luteinization rate. However, the rates of live birth, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage did not significantly differ between the GnRH-ant supplementation group and control group. In conclusion, although the existing randomized controlled trials indicate that GnRH-ant can effectively decrease the premature luteinizaton rate, evidence to support its use to improve clinical pregnancy outcomes in PCOS patients undergoing COS/IUI treatment is insufficient.

• GnRH antagonist
• intrauterine insemination
• ovulation induction
• polycystic ovary syndrome