Journal of Surgery Research and Practice
Open Access
Research Article
IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH Antagonist and
Long Protocols in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in
the First Treatment Cycle
Hassan Mumtaz1*, Shahzaib Ahmad2, Farrukh Zaman3, Aamir Ghazanfar4
1
House Physician KRL Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan and Former Internee: Guys and St Thomas Hospital
London, UK
2
King Edward Medical University Lahore, Pakistan
3
Consultant Medicine, KRL Islamabad, Pakistan and Speciality Certificate Diabetes and Obesity, UK
4
Vascular Surgeon, Head of General Surgery Department, Director General KRL Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan
*
Corresponding Author: Hassan Mumtaz, House Physician KRL Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan and Former
Internee: Guys and St Thomas Hospital London, UK; Email: Hassanmumtaz.dr@gmail.com
Received Date: 05-04-2021; Accepted Date: 24-04-2021; Published Date: 30-04-2021
Copyright© 2021 by Mumtaz H, et al. All rights reserved. This is an open access article distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction
in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Objectives: To compare the outcome of patients assumed to be poor responders before their
first cycle of IVF and treated either microdose flare-up or GnRH antagonist protocols with
patients stimulated by long GnRH protocol and had a poor ovarian response with a low yield
of the oocyte after their first IVF cycle.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from September 2014
to February 2019.
Methodology: Patients treated with the first cycle of IVF and diagnosed as poor responders
after ovarian stimulation were evaluated according to the treatment protocol, including
microdose flare-up (Group 1: 136 patients), GnRH antagonist (Group 2: 105 patients), and long
GnRH agonist (Group 3: 77 patients).
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
2
Results: Basal FSH level was significantly lower in group 3 compared to other groups (p<0.05).
The number of oocytes retrieved, the number of metaphase II oocytes were similar between
groups, although the mean AFC was significantly higher in group 3 than in group1 and 2
(p<0.05). Clinical pregnancy rates per patient were higher in group 3 (22.9%) than in group 1
(13.7%) and group 2 (14.4%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.214). The
live birth rate per patient was statistically higher in group 3 (21.4%) as compared to other
groups (9.7%, 10.3%, respectively; p<0.05).
Conclusion: Long protocol may be an option in poor responders undergoing IVF. Ovarian
reserve markers are essential factors with stimulation protocol for the success of IVF in poor
responder patients.
Keywords
Poor Responder; Microdose Flare-Up; GnRH Antagonist; Long Protocol; IVF; Pregnancy
Outcomes
Introduction
The number of cycles with poor response to Ovarian Stimulation (OS) protocols has been
increased with the widespread use of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART). Poor response
to OS occurs in approximately 9 to 24% of all patients undergoing In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)
[1]. In the literature, there are no precise criteria to define a Poor Ovarian Response (POR).
ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) has recently described
POR when at least two of the following three features should be present:
1. Advanced maternal age (≥40 years)
2. Any other risk factor for; a previous POR (≤3 oocytes by a conventional stimulation
protocol)
3. An abnormal ovarian reserve test (i.e., AFC (Antral follicle count), 5-7 follicles or
AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone), 0.5-1.1 ng/ml) [2].
A new approach for poor responders termed as "POSEIDON (Patient-Oriented Strategies
Encompassing Individualized Oocyte Number) stratification" has been indicated recently due
to the heterogeneity in definitions. This classification consists of 4 groups according to age
(<35 or ≥35 years), ovarian reserve parameters (AFC ≥5 or <5, AMH ≥1.2 or <1.2) and the
number of retrieved oocytes after standard stimulation (<4 or 4-9 oocytes) [3].
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
3
Several treatment protocols have been proposed to enhance POR in ART. Among many
stimulation protocols (GnRH agonist, GnRH antagonist, microdose flare-up) and adjuncts
(DHEA, Growth hormone, and others) for predicted poor responder, none is very effective or
superior as evidence-based [4]. Main theoretical advantages of GnRH antagonist and
microdose flare-up protocols in predicted poor responders are mild suppression of hypophysis
and initial flare of endogen gonadotropins for microdose protocol and prevention of premature
LH surge and luteinization without suppression of endogen gonadotropins resulting in more
recruitment of follicles for antagonist protocol [5,6]. Besides this, some experts offer long
protocol as the first option for poor responders due to better follicular synchronization [7].
Generally, GnRH antagonist protocol is the most preferred regimen for POR [8]. A Cochrane
review comparing different OS protocols in poor responders stated that using antagonist
protocol resulted in a higher Number of Oocytes Retrieved (NOR) compared to long protocol
but a fewer NOR than flare-up protocol [9]. Another recent Cochrane review has shown higher
Clinical Pregnancy Rates (CPR) and NOR in long protocol than short protocol [10]. Likewise,
similar results have been found regarding the NOR between long and short regimens in a recent
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) [11]. Thus, there is no robust data to determine the best
of these regimens for starting the OS in poor responders [9]. Choosing one of these regimens
is challenging because of the lack of sufficient evidence and the POR definition variations.
Besides this, most of the previous reports were about binary comparisons of these three main
treatment protocols in different patients.
So, we aimed to evaluate the outcome of patients who were assumed to be a poor responder
before stimulation and treated in their first cycle with microdose or antagonist protocols and
compare their outcomes with patients who were stimulated with long GnRH protocol in their
first cycle and had a poor response to gonadotropins with low number oocytes retrieved after
stimulation.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted retrospectively at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from
September 2014 to February 2019. It was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University.
Patients applying to the IVF center with different etiologies of infertility and started IVF
treatment were evaluated from the medical records of the hospital. Three groups were formed
according to their IVF protocol as microdose GnRH agonist (Group 1), GnRH antagonist
(Group 2) and long GnRH agonist (Group 3).
Patients stimulated by either microdose flare-up or GnRH antagonist protocol and anticipated
as poor responders according to their age, basal FSH or AFC prior to stimulation were reviewed
as poor responders study groups. All patients in the microdose (Group 1) and antagonist
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
4
protocol (Group 2) had the first cycle of IVF and had the Number of Oocytes Retrieved (NOR)
≤5 after ovarian stimulation. Patients treated by long luteal GnRH agonist according to their
age, basal FSH, or AFC and diagnosed as poor responders after stimulation due to the low yield
of oocytes in their first IVF cycle were evaluated as the control group. All patients in the long
agonist group (Group 3) had NOR ≤5 after stimulation as in study groups. When patients had
>5 oocytes after their cycle, they were excluded from the study. Patients with a diagnosis of
endocrinological disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism or
hyperprolactinemia, endometriosis, and severe male factor infertility, were also excluded.
In group 1, low dose OC (Desolett; Organon, Netherlands) was started on day 1 of the previous
cycle for 21 days. On the second day of menstruation, 40 µg SC twice daily of leuprolide
acetate (Lucrin; Abbott, France) (80 µg/day) was initiated. Recombinant FSH (Gonal-F;
Serono, Turkey) 300-450 IU/day was started on the 3rd day of the cycle. Leuprolide acetate and
recombinant FSH were continued until the day of hCG administration.
In group 2, recombinant FSH 300-450 IU/day was commenced on the 3rd day of the cycle, and
when the leading follicle reached 14 mm in diameter, 0.25 mg cetrorelix (Cetrotide; Asta
Medica, Germany) was administered daily until hCG injection.
In group 3, leuprolide acetate (1 mg) was started in the mid-luteal phase of the previous cycle
and ceased when the pituitary suppression was confirmed (E2 level <50 pg/ml). Then
recombinant FSH 300-450 IU/day was started, and leuprolide acetate was decreased to half of
the initial dose (0.5 mg). Leuprolide acetate and recombinant FSH were maintained until the
day of hCG administration.
Follicle growth was followed by serial ultrasound evaluation and serum E2 measurements to
adjust the gonadotropin dose in compliance with the ovarian stimulation response. All the
sonographic exams were performed by Voluson 730 Pro-machine (GE Healthcare Austria
GmbH and Co OG). 250 mcg choriogonadotropin alfa (Ovitrelle, Merc Serono, Italy) were
used to trigger ovulation when the mean diameter of the leading follicles was observed ≥17-18
mm by ultrasonography. Transvaginal oocyte retrieval was performed 36 hours after hCG
administration. ICSI procedure was carried out for all retrieved metaphase II oocytes. ET
(Embryo transfer) was performed 2-3 days after oocytes retrieval for high or good-quality
embryos (grade I [high- quality]: embryos with equal blastomere and no observed cytoplasmic
fragmentation; grade II [good-quality]: embryos with equal blastomere and <20%
fragmentation of the cytoplasm) under transabdominal ultrasound guidance by using a flexible
catheter (Wallace; Irvine Scientific, Santa Ana, CA).
Vaginal Progesterone (P) supplementation (Crinone 8% gel, Serono) was started to all patients
for luteal phase support after the transfer and continued until fetal heart activity was observed.
Clinical pregnancy was diagnosed when a gestational sac or a fetus with cardiac activity was
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
5
followed by ultrasonography. The live birth was defined as the delivery of a viable fetus of ≥23
weeks’ gestation.
Primary outcome measures were CPR and Live Birth Rates (LBR) per patient in this study.
Secondary outcome measures were the NOR, the number of mature oocytes and estradiol levels
on the day of hCG trigger. The fertilization rate was defined as the ratio of the total number of
fertilized oocytes to the total number of mature oocytes retrieved.
Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 21.0, Statistics,
2013, Chicago, IBM, USA). Normality tests, including the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, were
used for data analyses concerning normal distribution. One-way analyses of variance (Oneway ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc test was used to compare the mean values between
stimulation protocol groups. Chi-square test was used to analyze the differences between
evaluated categorical data. The fertilization rate was compared with the chi-square test.
Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation, and categorical data were
presented as percentages. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05.
Results
A total of 318 patients were evaluated in this study. Group 1 had 136 (42.8%) patients, Group
2 had 105 (33.0%) patients, and Group 3 had 77 (24.2%) patients. Basal characteristics of
groups were shown in Table 1. The mean age was not different between groups. Also, there
were no significant differences in BMI, duration of infertility, and causes of infertility between
groups. The mean AFC was significantly higher in group 3 (5.5 ± 1.9) than group 1 (4.8 ± 1.7)
and group 2 (4.7 ± 2.0) (p<0.05), and the mean basal FSH level was significantly lower in
group 3 (7.8 ± 2.7) as compared to group 1 and 2 (9.3 ± 3.9, 9.7 ± 4.6, respectively) (p<0.05).
The comparison of ovarian stimulation parameters between groups was given in Table 2. The
mean duration of stimulation, the mean progesterone, and LH levels on the day of the trigger
were similar between groups. Patients in group 1 used a significantly higher total dose of
gonadotropins (4189.5 ± 1252.7) as compared to group 3 (3714.7 ± 1120.7) (p<0.05). The
mean estradiol level on the day of hCG trigger was significantly higher in group 3 (1148.0 ±
546.9) as compared to only group 2 (933.9 ± 427.3) (p<0.05). The mean endometrial thickness,
the number of follicles ≥17 mm in diameter on the day of hCG injection, and cycle cancellation
rates were not different between groups. Also, the mean total NOR, number of metaphase II
oocytes, and the number of transferred embryos were similar among groups. There was not any
complication during the ovum pick-up procedure in groups. Fertilization rates were not
different between groups (70.6%, 69.1%, 67%, respectively) (p=0.645).
Clinical pregnancy was achieved in 47 of 291 patients (16.2%) for all groups. In group 3, the
CPR was higher than group 1 and 2, but the difference was not statistically significant (22.9%,
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
6
13.7%, 14.4%, respectively; p=0.214). Overall live birth was reported in 37 of 291 patients
(12.7%). LBR per patient was statistically higher in group 3 as compared to group 1 and 2
(21.4%, 9.7%, 10.3%, respectively; p<0.05).
Variables
Group 1
(Microdose) (1)
(n=136)
Group 2
(Antagonist) (2)
(n=105)
Group 3 (Long
agonist) (3)
(n=77)
p-value
Age (year)
36.4 ± 4.3
36.1 ± 5.3
35.1 ± 3.5
0.130
Duration of infertility
(month)
107.7 ± 68.5
96.5 ± 71.3
100.2 ± 62.5
0.436
Basal FSH (mIU/ml)
9.3 ± 3.9 (3)
9.7 ± 4.6 (3)
7.8 ± 2.7 (1,2)
0.009
Antral follicle count
4.8 ± 1.7 (3)
4.7 ± 2.0 (3)
5.5 ± 1.9 (1,2)
0.005
BMI (kg/m²)
23.1 ± 2.3
22.7 ± 2.7
23.2 ± 2.5
0.345
(318 patients)
0.214
Causes of infertility n,
(%)
Mild male factor
47 (34.6)
27 (25.7)
29 (37.7)
unexplained
52 (38.2)
53 (50.5)
37 (48.1)
tubal
22 (16.2)
16 (15.2)
7 (9.1)
mixt
15 (11)
9 (8.6)
4 (5.2)
Data were presented as mean ± SD and percentage (%). BMI: Body Mass Index; FSH: FollicleStimulating Hormone; Statistically significant differences between groups were presented with
Superscript (n); p <0.05 was considered significant.
Table 1: Comparison of basal characteristics of patients between groups.
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
7
Variables
Group 1
(Microdose) (1)
(n=136)
Group 2
(Antagonist) (2)
(n=105)
Group 3
(Long
agonist) (3
(n=77)
p-value
Duration of
stimulation (day)
11.5 ± 1.9
11.0 ±2.5 (1)
10.8 ± 2.1
0.054
Total dose of
gonadotropin(IU)
4189.5 ± 1252.7
3994.1 ±
1397.9
3714.7 ±
1120.7 (1)
0.033
E2 level on hCG
day (pg/ml)
1054.2 ± 506.0
933.9 ± 427.3
1148.0 ±
546.9 (2)
0.045
LH level on hCG
day (IU/L)
3.0 ± 2.1
3.6 ± 3.2
3.3 ± 2.7
0.475
Progesteron level
on hCG day
(ng/ml)
0.8 ± 0.5
0.8 ± 0.6
1.0 ± 0.7
0.166
Number of follicle
≥17 mm on hCG
day (mm)
2.1 ± 1.0
1.9 ± 1.0
2.0 ± 1.3
0.294
Endometrial
thickness on hCG
day (mm)
10.4 ± 2.3
10.1 ± 2.4
10.7 ± 2.0
0.179
Cycle cancellation
rate, n (%)
12 (8.8)
8 (7.6)
7 (9.1)
0.924
Number of
Oocytes retrieved
3.2 ± 1.3
3.1 ± 1.4
3.4 ± 1.9
0.410
Number of MII
Oocytes
2.7 ± 1.2
2.5 ± 1.3
2.9 ± 1.4
0.138
Fertilization rates,
n of PN (%)
262 (70.6)
183 (69.1)
150 (67)
0.645
Number of
transferred
embryos
1.8 ± 0.8
1.7 ± 0.7
1.6 ± 0.7
0.104
(318 patients)
(3)
(3)
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
8
Clinical pregnancy
rate, per patient, n
(%)
17 (13.7)
14 (14.4)
16 (22.9)
0.214
Live birth rate, per
patient, n (%)
12 (9.7)
10 (10.3)
15 (21.4)
0.042
Data were presented as mean ± SD, numbers and percentages. E2: Estradiol; LH:
Luteinizing Hormone, hCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. MII: Metaphase 2, PN:
Pronucleus. Statistically significant differences between groups were presented with
Superscript (n); p <0.05 was considered significant.
Table 2: Comparison of ovarian stimulation results and pregnancy outcomes between groups.
Discussion
In poor responder patients, GnRH antagonist and microdose flare-up protocols have been
frequently used in recent years to avoid profound gonadotropin suppression seen in the long
luteal protocol. In the literature, microdose flare-up and GnRH antagonist protocols were
mostly compared with each other in patients with POR [5,12-14]. However, there is limited
data, including one RCT that compares the IVF outcomes of these protocols concurrently with
long protocol in poor responders [11]. In our study, we found that although the NOR and the
number of metaphase II oocytes were comparable between groups, the LBR was statistically
higher in the long luteal group than microdose flare-up and GnRH antagonist protocol.
In contradiction to our results, significantly increased Pregnancy Rates (PR) and decreased
Cancellation Rates (CR) were reported in the microdose group as compared to the long agonist
protocol in two studies [15,16]. However, Leondires et al. found no statistical difference in PR
between groups with a significantly higher CR in the microdose group [17]. There were no
differences concerning oocyte numbers and reproductive outcomes between two groups in one
RCT [18]. Conversely, in a recent Cochrane review, significantly higher CPR and NOR have
been found in long protocol than short flare-up protocol [10]. Indeed, short flare protocols did
not reflect microdose flare protocols in this review, so the conclusion could not be used to
compare microdose flare and long protocols.
In general, higher NOR, implantation, and PR were reported in the GnRH antagonist regimen
compared to the long protocol [9,19]. In a recent RCT by Sunkara, et al., no difference has
been shown in the NOR between these two groups, with a non-significantly higher Ongoing
Pregnancy Rate (OPR) in the antagonist group [11]. However, Lambalk, et al., have reported
similar NOR, CPR, OPR, and LBR among two groups in a recent meta-analysis [20]. On the
other hand, one RCT found that long agonist protocol improved NOR and CPR compared to
the GnRH antagonist group in poor responders [21].
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
9
Comparisons of the microdose flare-up and GnRH antagonist regimen are inconsistent in the
literature. Kahraman, et al., found similar NOR and pregnancy rates in both groups, while
higher E2 levels in the microdose group [5]. Schmidt, et al., stated no significant differences
between both groups in terms of E2 levels on the day of hCG, NOR, and CPR [13]. In a recent
RCT, Merviel, et al., also have reported similar NOR, OPR, and CPR among groups [22]. Boza,
et al., found that peak E2 levels and CPR were not different between groups, although the
number of metaphase II oocytes was significantly higher in the microdose group [23]. In a
recent RCT, Ghaffari, et al., have reported similar NOR, CPR between two groups. However,
they have found significantly higher LBR in the microdose group [24]. In another RCT, Davar,
et al., reported that CPR and OPR were not different among groups, although NOR and the
number of metaphase II oocytes were higher in the antagonist group. However, they
administered a different antagonist treatment protocol in which GnRH antagonist was also used
seven days before stimulation following estrogen priming [25]. On the other hand, Fasouliotis
et al. reported a nonsignificant increase in CPR and a significant increase in OPR in the GnRH
antagonist group [12]. Lainas, et al., also showed a significantly higher OPR in the antagonist
group than in the microdose group, although E2 levels on the day of hCG were higher in the
microdose group [14]. In our study, NOR, CPR, and LBR per patient were not different
between these two groups, which was comparable with previous reports [5,13,22].
The LBR was significantly higher in the long agonist group as compared to others in our study.
All these protocols have also been assessed recently by Sunkara, et al., and non-significantly
higher OPR has been found in the GnRH antagonist group than in others [11]. The small sample
size may lead to this nonsignificant difference, as stated by the authors. Our results may be
explained by the retrospective design of the study. Another explanation of higher pregnancy
rates in the long GnRH group could also be the relatively good prognosis of these patients,
although the mean age was similar between groups. The long protocol group included patients
with the lowest FSH level and the highest AFC on the 3rd day of the cycle, which may
contribute to these good results. Also, the long agonist group may probably represent
POSEIDON Group 1 or 2, which has been described in recent years for poor responder patients.
In good prognosis poor responders like POSEIDON Group 1 and 2, prognostic factors such as
ovarian reserve parameters seem crucial on IVF outcomes in addition to the stimulation
protocol as in our study. Although the study population's homogeneity could not entirely be
provided, three stimulation protocols were concurrently evaluated in our research. These results
add evidence to the literature supporting the long agonist use in the poor responders.
Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
10
Conclusion
In conclusion, in poor responders with relatively good ovarian reserve markers before
stimulation, ovarian stimulation with long protocol might positively affect pregnancy outcomes
in IVF cycles.
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Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107
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17. Leondires MP, Escalpes M, Segars JH, Scott RT, Jr., Miller BT. Microdose follicular phase gonadotropinreleasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) compared with luteal phase GnRH-a for ovarian stimulation at in vitro
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21. Prapas Y, Petousis S, Dagklis T, Panagiotidis Y, Papatheodorou A, Assunta I, et al. GnRH antagonist versus
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Mumtaz H | Volume 2; Issue 1 (2021) | JSRP-2(1)-017 | Research Article
Citation: Mumtaz H, et al. IVF Outcomes of Microdose Flare-up, GnRH antagonist and Long Protocols
in Patients Having a Poor Ovarian Response in the First Treatment Cycle. J Surg Res Prac. 2021;2(1):111.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46889/JSRP.2021.2107