The efficacy of nafarelin acetate versus leuprolide acetate in conjunction with human menopausal gonadotropins for superovulation/intrauterine insemination.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the use of two gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, nafarelin acetate (NA) and leuprolide acetate (LA), in conjunction with human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of selected patient records. Patients were assigned to treatment groups systematically, but not randomly. Fixed rules were used for selection of medical records, but the study was not blinded.

SETTING

University medical center ovulation induction program.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS

Fifteen NA/hMG/IUI cycles were analyzed in comparison with 15 contemporary LA/hMG/IUI cycles.

RESULTS

There were no differences in: the number of days to ovarian suppression, the number of ampules of hMG required, the number of 17-mm preovulatory follicles, or the mean peak estradiol levels. However, the minimum estradiol levels at the height of ovarian suppression by GnRH agonist were lower in the LA group than in the NA group. Furthermore, 4/15 NA cycles resulted in pregnancy compared with 0/15 LA cycles.

CONCLUSIONS

NA is, at the least, comparable to LA in effecting pregnancy after superovulation/IUI.