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Programming in vitro fertilization for a 5- or 3-day week
E S Dimitry1, S A Bates, T Oskarsson
1Institute of Obsetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Fertility and Sterility
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Delaying human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration allows for scheduling oocyte retrievals on 3 or 5 days per week in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. This strategy significantly reduces weekend egg collections without adverse effects, improving efficiency and lowering costs.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
Background:
- Scheduling oocyte retrievals in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles often necessitates weekend work.
- This can lead to increased operational costs and logistical challenges for fertility clinics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of scheduling oocyte retrievals on fewer days per week (5 or 3 days) in IVF cycles.
- To assess the impact of delaying human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration on oocyte retrieval scheduling and cycle outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving delaying hCG administration by at least 24 hours to avoid weekend oocyte retrievals.
- Two groups were compared: one with delayed hCG (group 1) and a subsequent study programming retrievals for only 3 days a week (group 2).
- All patients undergoing IVF treatment were included.
Main Results:
- Delaying hCG significantly reduced weekend oocyte retrievals from 12.6% to 4.0% in the initial phase.
- In the 3-day per week scheduling group, only 2.1% of egg collections occurred out of schedule.
- No detrimental effects on cycle outcomes were observed due to delayed hCG administration.
Conclusions:
- Delayed hCG administration is an effective strategy to schedule oocyte retrievals on 3 or 5 days per week.
- This approach substantially decreases out-of-hours retrievals, reducing costs and enhancing operational efficiency.
- The method is applicable in various assisted reproduction settings using gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs for superovulation.