Flare/GnRH Antagonist Protocol versus GnRH Antagonist Protocol In Oocyte Cryopreservation Cycles

Objective:
To compare flare/GnRH antagonist protocol to GnRH antagonist protocol in oocytes cryopreservation cycles.

Design:
A retrospective cohort study.

Setting:
A tertiary university-affiliated medical center.

Subjects:
Women that underwent social oocyte cryopreservation from October 2020- December 2021.

Intervention(s):
None.

Main Outcome Measure(s):
Total oocytes retrieved and mature oocytes frozen.

Result(s):
Among 110 women that underwent social fertility preservation with Flare/GnRH antagonist protocol, in comparison to 110 women that received antagonist protocol, a reduced amount of gonadotropins was consumed with more oocytes retrieved (14.63 vs. 13.86) and more mature oocytes cryopreserved (11.32 vs. 10.14), but differences were not significantly different. In a subgroup with more than 6 oocytes retrieved significantly more mature oocytes were cryopreserved in women that received flare/antagonist protocol (14.03±0.90 vs. 11.63± 0.71, p= 0.03) in comparison to women that received antagonist protocol.

Conclusion(s):
Flare/antagonist protocol is at least as good as antagonist protocol in oocyte cryopreservation program. Larger studies might confirm the potentially improved oocyte maturity rate, possibly linked to endogenic flare, while preserving the option to use GnRH agonist ovulation trigger.