Low-dose Decapeptyl® used to induce a preovulatory gonadotropin surge in non-IVF treatment cycles

Abstract

This study compared hormonal responses, luteal phase adequacy, pregnancy and abortion rates in infertile women who received either human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) triptorelin (Decapapeptyl, 0.05 or 0.1 mg) to induce ovulation following ovarian stimulation with either clomiphene citrate or human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and who used either timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination for insemination. The results of our study demonstrate that a single subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mg triptorelin can be as effective as hCG in inducing ovulation and in terms of resulting pregnancies. Both hCG and triptorelin produced term pregnancy rates ranging from 9 to 19% depending on the stimulation and insemination protocol, and were not significantly different from each other. Triptorelin (0.05 mg) promoted an adequate follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) surge resulting in ovulation, however, the luteal phase was reduced to less than 9 days compared to almost 13 days with the 0.1 mg dosage. The term pregnancy rate was also reduced (5.9 vs. 17.5%, respectively). Our results suggest that GnRH-a (Decapeptyl, 0.1 mg) is an effective and useful alternative treatment for ovulation induction.

Key Words:

• Decapeptyl
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
• Ovulation Induction