CONTROLLED OVARIAN STIMULATION IN ENDOMETRIOSIS PATIENTS CAN BE INDIVIDUALIZED BY ANTI-MÜLLERIAN HORMONE LEVELS

Comparing ART outcomes in women with endometriosis after GnRH agonist versus GnRH antagonist ovarian stimulation: a systematic review

Background

Endometriosis is an oestrogen-dependent disease that can cause subfertility in women who may require assisted reproductive technology (ART) to achieve their pregnancy goals.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare ART outcomes in women with endometriosis following the long GnRH-agonist controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocol with those taking the GnRH-antagonist COS protocol.

Data Sources and Methods

MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science were systematically searched in June 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing the long GnRH-agonist COS protocol and the GnRH-antagonist COS protocol in women with all stages/subtypes of endometriosis were included. Data were synthesized into comprehensive tables for systematic review. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) checklists were used for the risk of bias assessment of non-randomized studies and randomized studies, and all the included studies were deemed to have acceptable quality.

Main Results

Eight studies (one RCT and seven observational) with 2695 patients (2761 cycles) were included. Most studies generally reported non-significant differences in clinical pregnancy or live birth rates regardless of the COS protocol used. However, the GnRH-agonist protocol may yield a higher total number of oocytes retrieved, especially mature oocytes. Conversely, the GnRH-antagonist protocol required a shorter COS duration and lower gonadotrophin dose. Adverse outcomes, such as rates of cycle cancellation and miscarriage, were similar between both COS protocols.

Conclusion

Both the long GnRH-agonist and GnRH-antagonist COS protocols generally yield similar pregnancy outcomes. However, the long GnRH-agonist protocol may be associated with a higher cumulative pregnancy rate due to the higher number of retrieved oocytes available for cryopreservation. The underlying mechanisms of the two COS protocols on the female reproductive tract remain unclear. Clinicians should consider treatment costs, stage/subtype of endometriosis and pregnancy goals of their patients when selecting a GnRH analogue for COS. A well-powered RCT is needed to minimize the risk of bias and compare the risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Registration

This review was prospectively registered at PROSPERO under Registration No. CRD42022327604.

HORMONAL THERAPY IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS: AN UPDATE

Medical therapy of endometriosis is under continuous reevaluation. Hereby we updated the drugs currently available or under investigation for the hormonal treatment of endometriosis.

Investigation of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) level and ovarian response in infertile women with endometriosis in IVF cycles

BACKGROUND

Endometriosis, can cause ovarian conflict and reduced ovarian reserve that could lead to lower response to assisted reproductive techniques.

OBJECTIVE

Current study was conducted to determine the association between level of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and the infertility treatment outcomes in infertile females with endometriosis versus the non-endometriosis infertile subject.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this case-control study, 64 infertile females who referred to Shariati Hospital from April 2015 to November 2017 were enrolled. They were divided in two groups of 32 patients (endometriosis and non-endometriosis women). The anti-mullerian hormone level among all subjects was determined, treatment outcomes were evaluated and association between these factors was assessed.

RESULTS

It was seen that the anti-mullerian hormone (p=0.06), the number of retrieved oocytes (p=0.7) and embryos (p=0.7), implantation rate (p=0.6) and clinical pregnancy rate (p=0.9) were similar between two groups. In patients with stage 3 or 4 endometriosis who had lower serum AMH level significantly (p=0.001) less oocytes were retrieved (p=0.001) and less transferrable embryos (p=0.03) were achieved. However, implantation and pregnancy rates did not differ (p=0.7) (p=0.6).

CONCLUSION

Totally, according to the obtained results, it may be concluded that ovarian reserve has more significant role in predicting infertility treatment outcome rather than receptive endometrium.