Avoidance of oocyte retrieval on the weekend through the use of scheduled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

Objective: To avoid oocyte retrieval for IVF-ET during the weekend, the scheduled method of ovarian hyperstimulation, in which oocyte retrieval is planned in advance for Monday through Wednesday, was evaluated. Design: A retrospective study. Setting: The IVF-ET unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tokushima University Hospital. Patient(s): One hundred seventy-eight cycles in patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET were stimulated according to the scheduled method of ovarian hyperstimulation (scheduled group). One hundred seventy-one cycles in patients of similar age and with comparable causes of infertility were stimulated according to the conventional method of ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET (conventional group). Intervention(s): In the scheduled method, under GnRH-a, the day of oocyte retrieval was determined in advance for IVF-ET. Ovarian stimulation with FSH and hMG was started 12 days before oocyte retrieval. Main Outcome Measure(s): The cancellation and clinical pregnancy rates (PRs), the days of oocyte retrieval, and other clinical parameters were evaluated in the two groups. Result(s): The cancellation rates in the scheduled and conventional groups were 9.6% and 4.7%, respectively. In about 75% of cycles in the scheduled group, oocyte retrieval was conducted on the scheduled day. When oocyte retrieval was scheduled for Monday through Wednesday, overtime work on the weekend could be avoided in 91% of the cycles without cancellation. The clinical PR was comparable between the two groups. Conclusion(s): The scheduled method of ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET was useful for avoiding oocyte retrieval on the weekend.