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GnRH triggering may improve euploidy and live birth rate in hyper-responders: a retrospective cohort study

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Despite the increasing use of GnRHa to trigger final oocyte maturation in segmented IVF cycles, the effects of trigger modality on chromosomal competence and embryo quality remain controversial. Hence, the purpose of this study was to compare euploidy rates and pregnancy outcomes among hyper-responding women using hCG versus GnRHa trigger.

Methods

This retrospective study included 333 hyper-responders, defined as >15 oocytes retrieved, who underwent preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A) in segmented IVF cycles using either GnRHa or urinary hCG trigger. Live birth rate (LBR) was the primary outcome of interest. Implantation rate (IR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), and euploidy rate were secondary outcomes.

Results

GnRH triggering was associated with improved IR (70.5 vs. 53.2%, p = 0.0475), LBR (51.3 vs. 33.8%, p = 0.0170) compared to hCG. A greater number of oocytes were retrieved (21.9 vs 18.4%, p < 0.001) and euploid embryos produced (2.8 vs. 2.1, p = 0.0109) after GnRHa triggering, while higher euploidy rates were only observed among women <35-years-old (62.0 vs. 51.7%, p = 0.0307) using GnRHa trigger. Higher OHSS rates were observed after hCG triggering (10.6 vs. 2.1%, p = 0.0009).

Conclusion

Hyper-responders who received GnRHa trigger experienced improved pregnancy outcomes and lower rates of OHSS compared to hCG triggering. The higher number of oocytes retrieved and euploid embryos produced may reflect an improved developmental competence using GnRHa triggering due to physiologic induction of both LH and FSH surge or other undefined mechanisms that improve embryo development. However, higher overall euploid rates were only observed among women <35-years-old using the GnRHa trigger. Further prospective studies are required to validate this observation and evaluate the specific influence of different ovulation triggers on gamete developmental competence among hyper-responder women.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank colleagues at the University of British Columbia and Olive Fertility Centre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Children’s and Women’s Hospital and Health Centre of British Columbia, University of British Columbia, D415A-4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada

    Justin Tan, Lisa Zhang, Jasmine Lo, Arohumam Kan & Gary Nakhuda

  2. Olive Fertility Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Chen Jing & Gary Nakhuda

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  1. Justin Tan
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Correspondence to Justin Tan.

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Supplemental Table 1

Characteristics of different doses of hCG trigger. Statistical significance was defined as P ≤ 0.05. (DOCX 15 kb)

Supplemental Table 2

OHSS outcomes of ovarian stimulation cycles. Statistical significance was defined as P ≤ 0.05. (DOCX 15 kb)

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Tan, J., Jing, C., Zhang, L. et al. GnRH triggering may improve euploidy and live birth rate in hyper-responders: a retrospective cohort study. J Assist Reprod Genet 37, 1939–1948 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01842-2

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