How fixed versus variable gonadotropin dose during controlled ovarian stimulation could influence the management of infertility patients undergoing IVF treatment: a national Delphi consensus

Use of gonadotropins in ovarian stimulation in Spain: Delphi consensus

Two-round Delphi study carried out in Spain. Three theme-based blocks were set out: 1) Patient profiles: therapeutic goal and parameters to be analysed according to POSEIDON patient profiles; 2) Ovarian stimulation protocols with antagonists: monotherapy (FSH) vs combined therapy (FSH + LH/HMG); 3) Safety and effectiveness of the devices. The antral follicle count and the anti-Müllerian hormone level were considered indicators that can be used to predict ovarian response. More than 80% of the participants agreed that FSH monotherapy is the recommended regimen in normal/hyper-responsive patients of < 35 years of age; that 150-300 IU is the dose to be used in ovarian stimulation in monotherapy depending on clinical parameters; and that FSH monotherapy improves patients' comfort compared to two combined drugs. It was unanimously considered that the type of device used by the patient influences the comfort of the treatment.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? There is currently no consensus on the optimal treatment for controlled ovarian stimulation for patients undergoing IVF which leads to highly variable clinical practices.What the results of this study add? This study's strong point is that, since it is a consensus, it has been possible to include more topics than would normally be dealt with in a systematic review or guidelines, which are generally based on a strict method that restricts the scope of the research. Experts have reached a consensus on most of the statements and based on these they have issued consensus statements that will enable the optimal use of gonadotropins in IVF.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This Delphi consensus provides a real-life clinical perspective on gonadotropin usage in IVF.

Extended Injection Intervals of Gonadotropins by Intradermal Administration in IVF Treatment

CONTEXT

Gonadotropins can be administered every 5 days under intradermal injection in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effectiveness of intradermal injection of recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) for women undergoing IVF.

METHODS

Women who received their first IVF treatment enrolled in this prospective intervention in 2018. All women received a bolus of 900 IU rhFSH intradermally at day 2 of the treatment cycle followed by additional dosage of rhFSH at day 7 and/or day 10. The main outcome measures included the total dose of rhFSH and number of injections required, sequential serum FSH level detected, and number of mature oocytes retrieved.

RESULTS

Seventy women completed the study. On average, 2.31 ± 0.73 injections and 1662 ± 397 IU of rhFSH were administered. While the baseline FSH level was 5.6 ± 2.2 IU/L, the serum concentrations of FSH after rhFSH administration were 35.3 ± 7.0 on the first day (24 hours) and 10.7 ± 3.7 IU/L on the fifth day (120 hours). A total of 10.5 ± 6.6 mature oocytes were retrieved, resulting in 7.3 ± 5.1 pronuclear embryos; 1.8 ± 0.6 embryos were transferred to the uterus. Our findings resulted in 72% fertilization, 91% cleavage, 31% implantation, and 36% live birth rates. Although fewer larger follicles were found, noninferiority results were noted in the mature oocytes retrieved, good embryos available, and clinical pregnancy rate compared with those received conventional daily subcutaneous rhFSH administration.

CONCLUSION

Intradermal administration of rhFSH, with a smaller dose of rhFSH and fewer injections, may achieve the goal of a cost-effective and more patient-friendly regimen.

A Personalized Management Approach of OHSS: Development of a Multiphase Prediction Model and Smartphone-Based App

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop multiphase big-data-based prediction models of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and a smartphone app for risk calculation and patients' self-monitoring.

METHODS

Multiphase prediction models were developed from a retrospective cohort database of 21,566 women from January 2017 to December 2020 with controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). There were 17,445 women included in the final data analysis. Women were randomly assigned to either training cohort (n = 12,211) or validation cohort (n = 5,234). Their baseline clinical characteristics, COS-related characteristics, and embryo information were evaluated. The prediction models were divided into four phases: 1) prior to COS, 2) on the day of ovulation trigger, 3) after oocyte retrieval, and 4) prior to embryo transfer. The multiphase prediction models were built with stepwise regression and confirmed with LASSO regression. Internal validations were performed using the validation cohort and were assessed by discrimination and calibration, as well as clinical decision curves. A smartphone-based app "OHSS monitor" was constructed as part of the built-in app of the IVF-aid platform. The app had three modules, risk prediction module, symptom monitoring module, and treatment monitoring module.

RESULTS

The multiphase prediction models were developed with acceptable distinguishing ability to identify OHSS at-risk patients. The C-statistics of the first, second, third, and fourth phases in the training cohort were 0.628 (95% CI 0.598-0.658), 0.715 (95% CI 0.688-0.742), 0.792 (95% CI 0.770-0.815), and 0.814 (95% CI 0.793-0.834), respectively. The calibration plot showed the agreement of predictive and observed risks of OHSS, especially at the third- and fourth-phase prediction models in both training and validation cohorts. The net clinical benefits of the multiphase prediction models were also confirmed with a clinical decision curve. A smartphone-based app was constructed as a risk calculator based on the multiphase prediction models, and also as a self-monitoring tool for patients at risk.

CONCLUSIONS

We have built multiphase prediction models based on big data and constructed a user-friendly smartphone-based app for the personalized management of women at risk of moderate/severe OHSS. The multiphase prediction models and user-friendly app can be readily used in clinical practice for clinical decision-support and self-management of patients.

Fertility technologies and how to optimize laboratory performance to support the shortening of time to birth of a healthy singleton: a Delphi consensus

PURPOSE

To explore how the assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratories can be optimized and standardized to enhance embryo culture and selection, to bridge the gap between standard practice and the new concept of shortening time to healthy singleton birth.

METHODS

A Delphi consensus was conducted (January to July 2018) to assess how the ART laboratory could be optimized, in conjunction with existing guidelines, to reduce the time to a healthy singleton birth. Eight experts plus the coordinator discussed and refined statements proposed by the coordinator. The statements were distributed via an online survey to 29 participants (including the eight experts from step 1), who voted on their agreement/disagreement with each statement. Consensus was reached if ≥ 66% of participants agreed/disagreed with a statement. If consensus was not achieved for any statement, that statement was revised and the process repeated until consensus was achieved. Details of statements achieving consensus were communicated to the participants.

RESULTS

Consensus was achieved for all 13 statements, which underlined the need for professional guidelines and standardization of lab processes to increase laboratory competency and quality. The most important points identified were the improvement of embryo culture and embryo assessment to shorten time to live birth through the availability of more high-quality embryos, priority selection of the most viable embryos and improved cryosurvival.

CONCLUSION

The efficiency of the ART laboratory can be improved through professional guidelines on standardized practices and optimized embryo culture environment, assessment, selection and cryopreservation methodologies, thereby reducing the time to a healthy singleton delivery.