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Embryonic early-cleavage rate is decreased with aging in GnRH agonist but not inantagonist protocols

  • Embryo Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between embryonic early-cleavage status and the age of patients receiving either a GnRH agonist long protocol or a GnRH antagonist protocol.

Methods

This retrospective study included 534 patients undergoing a fresh cycle of oocyte retrieval and day-3 embryo transfer. Of the 534 patients treated, 331 received a GnRH agonist long stimulation protocol (GnRH agonist group) for ovarian stimulation and 203 patients received a GnRH antagonist protocol (GnRH antagonist group).

Results

By logistic regression analysis, the rate of embryonic early-cleavage was significantly decreased with increasing age of women in the agonist (P < 0.001) but not in antagonist groups (P = 0.61). Based on the results of this study, maternal age is a critical factor for embryonic early-cleavage in agonist protocol but not in antagonist protocol. The results also showed that early-cleavage embryos were of better quality and resulted in a higher pregnancy rate than late-cleavage embryos in the GnRH agonist group. However, embryo quality and pregnancy rate was not significantly different between early and late cleavage embryos in the GnRH antagonist group.

Conclusions

We conclude that embryonic early-cleavage status is negatively correlated with aging in women receiving GnRH agonist long down-regulation but not in GnRH antagonist protocols. We also conclude that early cleavage of the zygote is not a reliable predictor for pregnancy potential using the GnRH antagonist protocol.

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Conflict of interest

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Compliance with ethical requirements

This article is a retrospective study. For this type of study formal consent is not required. This article does not contain any studies with animal subjects.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Ton-YenGeneral Hospital, Hshinchu, Taiwan

    Wen-Jui Yang

  2. Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hshichu, Taiwan

    Wen-Jui Yang, Yu-Chyi Hwang & Chih-Sheng Lin

  3. Departmentof Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yuh-Ming Hwu & Robert Kuo-kuang Lee

  4. Departement of Surgery, Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Shun-Yu Hsiao

Authors
  1. Wen-Jui Yang
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  2. Yu-Chyi Hwang
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  3. Chih-Sheng Lin
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  4. Yuh-Ming Hwu
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  5. Robert Kuo-kuang Lee
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  6. Shun-Yu Hsiao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shun-Yu Hsiao.

Additional information

Capsule Embryonic early-cleavage status is negatively correlated with aging in women receiving GnRH agonist long down-regulation but not in GnRH antagonist protocols. Early cleavage of the zygote is not a reliable predictor for pregnancy potential using the GnRH antagonist protocol.

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Yang, WJ., Hwang, YC., Lin, CS. et al. Embryonic early-cleavage rate is decreased with aging in GnRH agonist but not inantagonist protocols. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 789–795 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0461-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0461-y

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