Comparison of pre-treatment with OCPs or estradiol valerate vs. no pre-treatment prior to GnRH antagonist used for IVF cycles: an RCT

ABSTRACT

Background: both oral contraceptive pills [OCPs] and estradiol valerate [E2] have been used to schedule a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist in vitro fertilization [IVF] cycles. Since the suppression of follicle-stimulating hormone by OCPs can stay 5-7 days after stopping the pills, it seems that starting the gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH] after 6 days of pre-treatment discontinuation may be important in IVF outcomes: