Euploid Rate of Blastocyst Derived From PPOS VS Antagonist Protocol

Overview

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) involves multiple follicular development, oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer after fertilization. Despite recent advances in ovarian stimulation, the method of assisted fertilization and improved culture conditions, the implantation potential of embryos remains around 30-35% for a long time. Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists have been used in IVF to prevent the LH surge and the premature ovulation and are given in the luteal phase of the preceding cycle or in the follicular phase of the treatment cycle i.e. the long GnRH agonist. GnRH antagonists are now commonly used during IVF. In addition to the advantage of its simplicity, the use of antagonist is associated with a substantial reduction in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome without reducing the chance of achieving live birth when compared with the long agonist protocols. \[1\] Progestin can inhibit the pituitary LH surge during ovarian stimulation and various studies show progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) is effective in blocking the LH surge in IVF \[2-5\]. More and more centers in China are using PPOS because this regimen appears simpler and cheaper. Because of its negative effect on the endometrium, fresh transfer of embryos is not possible and elective freezing of all embryos is required. PPOS protocol is indicated in women who freeze all embryos because of various reasons such as undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy or the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. One prospective non-randomized study comparing the PPOS vs short GnRH agonist protocol shows similar oocytes retrieved between the two protocols, and the incidence of premature LH surge, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rates shows no significant difference. \[2\] A recent randomized trial comparing medroxyprogesterone and GnRH antagonist in an oocyte donation program showed a similar number of mature oocytes but reported lower ongoing pregnancy rate and live birth rate of recipients of oocyte donors who had received medroxyprogesterone in IVF \[6\]. However, the oocyte recipients in that trial were not randomized. Therefore, it is not possible to conclude the effect of progestin used in IVF on the pregnancy outcomes. It is possible that the PPOS protocol may have an adverse effect on the euploid rate of embryos, leading to a lower live birth rate.

The inability to assess embryo quality and select those with the highest potential for implantation on the basis of morphology has led to the concept of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). PGT-A involves biopsy of a few cells from an embryo and assessment of the chromosome copy numbers. While PGT-A cannot create a healthy embryo or improve the health of an embryo, it provides a method of selecting embryos with a normal number of chromosomes for transfer. This in turn has the potential to increase the chance of having a healthy live birth and reduce the risk of miscarriage or an abnormal fetus caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes. Aneuploidy screening of all chromosomes is necessary to determine whether an embryo is chromosomally normal. As the turnaround time of PGT-A with next generation sequencing is about a week, it is not possible to transfer blastocyst in the stimulated cycle. All blastocysts will be frozen post biopsy and the blastocysts with normal genetic makeup will be thawed and replaced in a subsequent menstrual cycle. Cryopreservation of blastocysts and replacing the frozen blastocysts after thawing in subsequent cycles become a common practice with vitrification as the cryopreservation method. A systematic review (7) of the clinical utility of PGT-A with comprehensive chromosome screening found that three small randomised controlled trials demonstrated benefit in young and good prognosis patients in terms of clinical pregnancy rates and the use of single embryo transfer. This randomized trial aims to compare the euploid rate of blastocysts between PPOS and GnRH antagonist protocols in patients undergoing PGT-A.