Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to explore the incidence of empty follicle syndrome (EFS) in oocyte donors who had final oocyte maturation triggered with GnRHa and to compare the incidence of EFS in this group of patients with IVF patients who had final oocyte maturation with hCG.
Methods
Data including 2034 oocyte donation cycles and 1433 IVF cycles performed between years 2009 and 2010 was retrospectively analyzed to identify cases of EFS in each group.
Results
The incidence of EFS in the two groups did not differ significantly, 3.5% versus 3.1%, (n.s.).
Conclusions
This large retrospective analysis indicates that the incidence of EFS is not increased after GnRHa triggering as compared to hCG triggering.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Humaidan P, Kol S, Papanikolaou E, The Copenhagen GnRH Agonist Triggering Workshop Group. GnRH agonist for triggering of final oocyte maturation: time for a change of practice? Hum Reprod Update. 2011;17:510–4.
Honnma H, Hashiba Y, Asada Y, Endo T. Failure of triggering oocyte maturation with a GnRH agonist in polycystic ovary syndrome: two case reports. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol In Press. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.03.002.
Griesinger G, Schultz L, Bauer T, Broessner A, Frambach T, Kissler S. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome prevention by gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist triggering of final oocyte maturation in a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol in combination with a “freeze-all” strategy: a prospective multicentric study. Fertil Steril. 2011;95:2029–33.
Ben-Shlomo I, Schiff E, Levran D, Ben-Rafael Z. Failure of oocyte retrieval during invitro fertilization: a sporadic event rather than a syndrome. Fertil Steril. 1991;55:324–7.
Awonuga A, Govindbhai J, Zierke S, Schnauffer K. Continuing the debate on empty follicle syndrome: can it be associated with normal bioavailability of b-human chorionic gonadotrophin on the day of oocyte recovery? Hum Reprod. 1998;13:1281–4.
Zreik TG, Garcia-Velasco JA, Vergara TM, Arici A, Olive D, Jones EE. Empty follicle syndrome: evidence for recurrence. Hum Reprod. 2000;15:999–1002.
Zegers-Hochschild F, Fernandez E, Machenna A, Fabres C, Alteiri E, Lopez T. The empty follicle syndrome: a pharmaceutical industry syndrome. Hum Reprod. 1995;10:2262–5.
Ndukwe G, Thornton S, Fishel S, Dowell K, Aloum M, Green S. ‘Curing’ empty follicle syndrome. Hum Reprod. 1997;12:21–3.
Ubaldi F, Nagy Z, Janssenwillen C, Smitz J, Van Steirteghem A, Devroey P. Ovulation by repeated human chorionic gonadotrophin in ‘empty follicle syndrome’ yields a twin clinical pregnancy. Hum Reprod. 1997;12:454–6.
Quintans CJ, Donaldson MJ, Blanco LA, Pasqualini RS. Empty follicle syndrome due to human errors: its occurrence in an in-vitro fertilization programme. Hum Reprod. 1998;13:2703–5.
Gonen Y, Balakier H, Powell W, Casper RF. Use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to trigger follicular maturation for in vitro fertilization. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;71:918–22.
Itskovitz J, Boldes R, Levron J, Erlik Y, Kahana L, Brandes JM. Induction of preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge and prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome by gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Fertil Steril. 1991;56:213–20.
Hoff JD, Quigley ME, Yen SS. Hormonal dynamics at midcycle: a reevaluation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983;57:792–6.
Damewood MD, Shen W, Zacur HA, Schlaff WD, Rock JA, Wallach EE. Disappearance of exogenously administered human chorionic gonadotropin. Fertil Steril. 1989;52:398–400.
Weissman A, Lurie S, Zalel Y, Goldchmit R, Shoham Z. Human chorionic gonadotropin: pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous administration. Gynecol Endocrinol. 1996;10:273–6.
Stevenson TL, Lashen H. Empty follicle syndrome: the reality of a controversial syndrome, a systematic review. Fertil Steril. 2008;90:691–8.
Parneix I, Emperaire JC, Ruffie A, Parneix P. Comparison of different protocols of ovulation induction, by GnRH agonists and chorionic gonadotropin. Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2001;29:100–5.
Díaz I, Guillén A, Pacheco A, Requena A, Garcia-Velasco JA. Endocrine modifications associated with final oocyte maturation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists vs. human chorionic gonadotropin in women undergoing intrauterine insemination. J Reprod Med. 2008;53:33–9.
Fauser BC, de Jong D, Olivennes F, Wramsby H, Tay C, Itskovitz-Eldor J, van Hooren HG. Endocrine profiles after triggering of final oocyte maturation with GnRH agonist after cotreatment with the GnRH antagonist ganirelix during ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87:709–15.
Engmann L, Siano L, Schmidt D, Nulsen J, Maier D, Benadiva C. GnRH agonist to induce oocyte maturation during IVF in patients at high risk of OHSS. Reprod Biomed Online. 2006;13:639–44.
Bodri D, Guillén JJ, Trullenque M, Schwenn K, Esteve C, Coll O. Early ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is completely prevented by gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist triggering in high-risk oocyte donor cycles: a prospective, luteal-phase follow-up study. Fertil Steril. 2010;93:2418–20.
Yariz KO, Walsh T, Uzak A, Spiliopoulos M, Duman D, Onalan G, King MC, Tekin M. Inherited mutation of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) in empty follicle syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2011 (in press).
Khalaf Y, Braude P. ‘Curing’ empty follicle syndrome. Hum Reprod. 1997;12:1601.
Tsuiki A, Rose BI, Hung TT. Steroid profiles of follicular fluids from a patient with the empty follicle syndrome. Fertil Steril. 1988;49:104–7.
Beranova M, Oliveira LM, Bédécarrats GY, Schipani E, Vallejo M, Ammini AC, Quintos JB, Hall JE, Martin KA, Hayes FJ, Pitteloud N, Kaiser UB, Crowley Jr WF, Seminara SB. Prevalence, phenotypic spectrum, and modes of inheritance of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor mutations in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86:1580–8.
Perez Mayorga M, Gromoll J, Behre HM, Gassner C, Nieschlag E, Simoni M. Ovarian response to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulation depends on the FSH receptor genotype. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85:3365–9.
Piersma D, Verhoef-Post M, Berns EM, Themmen AP. LH receptor gene mutations and polymorphisms: an overview. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2007;260–262:282–6.
Alviggi C, Clarizia R, Pettersson K, Mollo A, Humaidan P, Strina I, Coppola M, Ranieri A, D’Uva M, De Placido G. Suboptimal response to GnRHa long protocol is associated with a common LH polymorphism. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009;18:9–14.
Pettersson KS, Söderholm JR. Individual differences in lutropin immunoreactivity revealed by monoclonal antibodies. Clin Chem. 1991;37:333–40.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Dr Claudio Bonomini for his invaluable help in data search.
The authors disclose any potential conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Capsule
Empty follicle syndrome is a condition in which no oocytes are retrieved after ovarian stimulation for IVF. The incidence seems to be similar after GnRHa triggering in oocyte donors as compared to hCG triggering in IVF patients.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Castillo, J.C., Garcia-Velasco, J. & Humaidan, P. Empty follicle syndrome after GnRHa triggering versus hCG triggering in COS. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 249–253 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9704-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9704-8