Comparison of leuprolide acetate and triptorelin in assisted reproductive technology cycles: A prospective, randomized study

Objective: To compare the use of two depot GnRH-a, leuprolide and triptorelin, in long-suppression GnRH-a protocols. Design: Prospective, randomized study. Setting: An IVF unit of an academic medical center. Patient(s): Fifty-two women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF. Intervention(s): Patients were prospectively randomized to receive 3.75 mg depot formulations of either leuprolide or triptorelin on days 21-23 of the menstrual cycle. Stimulation with gonadotropins was initiated after pituitary desensitization was achieved. Main Outcome Measure(s): The stimulation pattern and cycle outcomes were compared between the two groups. Result(s): Twenty-six patients were included in each group. No significant differences were observed in the patient age, estrogen, and P levels on day of hCG administration, gonadotropin dosage, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, percentage of high-quality embryos, and number of embryos transferred. However, significantly higher clinical implantation and pregnancy rates were found in the leuprolide group compared with the triptorelin group. Conclusion(s): A depot preparation of leuprolide is associated with higher implantation and pregnancy rates than a depot preparation of triptorelin when it is used in the midluteal phase as part of the long-suppression GnRH-a protocol in IVF.