Synchronization of antral follicles: a step further towards a friendly IVF Program

Objective: To evaluate the value of synchronization of follicles using luteal phase estradiol for a friendly IVF program.
Materials and Methods: A total of 108 infertile couples were included in a pragmatic trial. Group I (n=48) received Progynova 4mg/day for 10 days in the luteal phase preceding the ICSI cycle. Clomiphene citrate was started on the 2nd day of the cycle for five days, and hMG was administered on day 6 for 5 days. Group II (n=60) received the standard long protocol. The dose of hMG was then adjusted according to the ovarian response.
Results: There was no significant difference between both groups regarding age, duration of infertility and body mass index. Group I showed a statistically significant reduction in duration of stimulation, dose of hMG (16.4 ± 4.7 vs. 40.9 ± 7.9), and number of oocytes retrieved (4.8 ± 2.6 vs. 16.2 ± 7.5), but it also showed a significant increase in cycle cancellation (8.3%). Even so, there was no significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate/ transfer (33.3% vs. 40%) between the two groups.
Conclusion: This approach is both simple and effective and it may prove to be an attractive alternative to the standard GnRH agonist long protocol.