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Article| Volume 11, ISSUE 6, P685-689, 2005

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Controlled natural cycle IVF with antagonist use and blastocyst transfer

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      Abstract

      A method of controlled natural cycle IVF (CONCIVF) was sought to provide simpler and shorter treatment without the risks of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancies. A total of 138 couples with normal ovulation and normal sperm parameters, in whom the women were <40 years old, were the candidates for this study. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist was used before human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration if LH increased to a concentration of 10 mIU/ml before HCG injection. Treatment was initiated at ≥16 mm follicular growth and at oestradiol concentrations ≥400 pmol/l with 5000 IU HCG induction. All the embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage and transferred only if they reached early or advanced blastulation. A total of 126 patients underwent oocyte retrieval. In 102 cases, one oocyte was retrieved; 95% of the oocytes fertilized, 99% cleaved and 47.9% achieved the blastocyst stage. The implantation rate per blastocyst transfer was 53.3% and the live-birth rate per embryo transfer was 40%. Therefore, CONCIVF with blastocyst transfer gives acceptable blastocyst development and implantation rates without the long- or short-term side effects of ovulation induction.

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      Biography

      Dr Krinos Trokoudes graduated from the Athens Medical School, Greece, in 1972. Further training was undertaken in the USA and Canada and he worked in the Endocrinology Department of the University of Toronto, Canada. During that period, he published his research work on hormone receptors in the testis, ovaries, thyroid and adrenals. He has been in Cyprus since 1981 as a Director of the Pedieos IVF Centre. His clinical research interests are in stimulation protocols, ovum donation, polycystic ovaries and sperm production.