Background: Progestin primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) has proved its effectiveness in COS in comparison with conventional protocols. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues have been shown to reduce pituitary activity and prevent LH surges, PPOS protocol has the same role with different mechanism in COS but data about its long term safety is still insufficient.
Objectives: to compare the outcome of thawed embryos originating from Progestin Primed Ovarian Stimulation vs. that originating from GnRH analogue protocols especially as regard: Pregnancy outcome and neonatal birth weights.
Methods: This retrospective study took place at IVF center, all case files during period from January to December 2022. Case files divided into 2 study groups A and B, Group A: thawed embryos originated from PPOS protocol and Group B: thawed embryos originated from conventional protocols using GnRH analogue group.
Results: pregnancy loss rates were found to be 18.2% in the GnRH Analogue group and 20.4% in the PPOS group, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.155 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.551-2.422. The p-value of 0.702 with no statistically significant disparity in pregnancy loss rates between the two groups. The percentages of low birthweight (2500 g) and high birthweight (4000 g) infants were comparable between the GnRH Analogue and PPOS groups with odds ratios close to 1.
Conclusion: The pregnancy loss and the birthweights of neonates from PPOS were similar to those from GnRH analogue regimens. This provided us with the safety of PPOS. Furthermore, this evidence suggests that the external progestins administration during ovarian stimulation has no negative impact on the oocytes quality or on the subsequent embryos development in IVF cycles. Additional inquiries should prioritize the examination of the prolonged safety of offspring resulting from the PPOS technique.