Conventional stimulation IVF
Conventional stimulation IVF is defined as when 150IU or more
gonadotrophin daily were administered, including when long term GnRH-a
is used for pituitary down-regulation followed by high doses of
stimulation(150 – 450 U) with rFSH (Gonal-F® , Ares Serono,
Geneva, Switzerland or Puregon® ,NV Organon, Oss, The
Netherlands, randomly) or hMG (Meropu® r , Ferring, Milan,
Italy), or when GnRH agonist (Cetrotide® injection of 0.25 mg,
Merck Biopharma Co., Ltd) is administered in a flare protocol with high
doses of stimulation( 150 – 450 U) with rFSH or hMG, or when GnRH
antagonist is used with conventional doses of early start of rFSH or hMG
. When at least one dominating follicle exceeded a mean diameter of
14–18 mm and serum estradiol was 800-1000pmol/L per follicle, 6,500IU
HCG(r-hCG Ovitrelle® , 6500 IU, Merck, Rome, Italy)were given as
trigger, and a transvaginal oocyte retrieval followed 36 hours later.
After in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection
according to the husbands’ semen samples, embryo morphology was assessed
on the third day after oocyte retrieval. All available embryos were
transferred on day 3 after the retrieval. Remaining supernumerary
embryos were vitrified, and no more than 2 embryos were transferred in
subsequent naturally prepared frozen cycles.
Luteal phase support of progesterone (Duphaston® 10 mg; Abbott
BV, Netherlands) or micronized progesterone (Crinone® 8%
Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Inc., Philadelphia, PA) or dydrogesterone
(Utrogestan® 200 mg, Besins Healthcare) were used for 2 weeks
until the determination of pregnancy.