Objective: To compare the short agonist and flexible antagonist protocols in the management of poor responders to standerd long down regulation protocol.
Design: Randomized prospective comparative study.
Setting: private IVF center(Engab).
Patient(s): One hundred poor-responder (IVF)(ICSI), who responded poorly to the standerd long down- regulation protocol in their first treatment cycle.
Intervention(s): Peak serum E2 was assayed on the day of hCG administration.
Main Outcome Measure(s): primary outcome: number of HMG ampoules used, peak E2 at the triggering day, number of oocytes retrieved, number of metaphase II oocytes, fertilization rate, embryo quality and number of embryos transferred.cycle cancellation.
secondary outcome: pregnancy rate , miscarriage rate .
Result(s): GnRH-antagonist protocol shows increased – non significant- pregnancy rate and decreased - non significant - miscarriage rate than agonist short protocol, however agonist short protocol appears to be more effective than the GnRH-antagonist protocol in terms of number of FSH ampules, peak E2 level, fertilization rate, and top-quality embryos transferred in poor-responder.
Conclusion(s): The probability of pregnancy might be better with the use of the antagonist protocol, also flexible antagonist protocol is a simpler and more patient friendly method of ovarian stimulation compared with the short agonist protocol.