Intranasal gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) for luteal-phase support following GnRHa triggering, a novel approach to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in high responders.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether intranasal GnRH agonist (GnRHa) can be effectively used for luteal support in high-responder patients undergoing fresh-embryo transfer after ovulation induction with the use of GnRHa. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Private fertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Forty-six high-responder patients were administered a GnRHa ovulation trigger to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), followed by 2 weeks of daily intranasal GnRHa (nafarelin) for luteal-phase support. No additional progesterone supplementation was administrated. INTERVENTION(S): Intranasal GnRHa for luteal-phase support. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The primary outcome was ongoing clinical pregnancy rate. RESULT(S): High median progesterone levels were measured at midluteal phase and on the day of the first positive pregnancy test (190 nmol/L on both measures). We obtained 24 (52.1%) ongoing clinical pregnancies. None of the patients developed OHSS. CONCLUSION(S): Intranasal GnRHa is effective in achieving luteal-phase support in high-responder patients triggered with GnRHa and avoiding OHSS.