Ovarian stimulation for preimplantation genetic testing

Abstract

A narrative review of the management of controlled ovarian stimulation in patients undergoing preimplantation genetic testing is presented. An electronic search was performed to identify research publications that addressed ovarian stimulation and preimplantation genetic testing published until December 2017. Studies were classified in decreasing categories: randomized controlled trials, prospective controlled trials, prospective non-controlled trials, retrospective studies and experimental studies. The aim of controlled ovarian stimulation has shifted from obtaining embryos available for transfer to yielding the maximum embryos available for biopsy to increase the odds of achieving one euploid embryo available for transfer, without the distress of inducing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or inadequate endometrium receptivity as vitrification and deferred embryo transfer usually will be planned. The present narrative review summarizes all treatment-related variables as well as stimulation strategies after controlled ovarian stimulation that could help patients undergoing an in vitro fertilization cycle coupled with preimplantation genetic testing, including the number of oocytes needed to achieve one healthy live birth, oral contraceptive pill usage, the role of mild ovarian stimulation or random-start stimulation, the stimulation protocol and type of gonadotropin of choice, the novel progesterone protocols, agonist or dual trigger as a final oocyte maturation trigger, the accumulation of oocytes/embryos and the optimal interval before proceeding with a subsequent controlled ovarian stimulation or the optimal medication to link stimulation cycles. The discussion is being presented according to how questions are posed in clinical practice. The aim of ovarian stimulation has shifted from obtaining embryos available for transfer to yielding the maximum embryos available for biopsy to increase the odds of achieving one euploid embryo available for transfer.

Oocyte accumulation in low-ovarian reserve women: do or not to do?

“…However, he discovered a reduced euploid blastocyst / MII oocyte ratio, a sign of lower oocyte efficiency during vitrification (33). Oocyte accumulation, according to J Rodriguez-Purata and F Martinez, improves the result and allows women who have inadequate response to be compared to normal responders in PGTA (34).…”

New Twists in Ovarian Stimulation and Their Practical Implications

“…Moreover, the advent of pregestational testing for aneuploidy (PGTA) and its rapid expansion in our everyday ART practice favors increasing the number of embryos available for testing. Consonant with this view, Rodriguez-Purata and Martinez (11) states that “the aim of ovarian stimulation has shifted from obtaining embryos available for transfer to yielding the maximum embryos available for biopsy to increase the odds of achieving one euploid embryo available for transfer” (11). Nevertheless, mild OS still has its protagonists (12).…”