Mild IVF using GnRH agonist long protocol is possible: comparing stimulations with 100 IU vs. 150 IU recombinant FSH as starting dose

PURPOSE: To test the possibility of stimulating ovaries with a mild IVF approach using a GnRH agonist long protocol. METHODS: Retrospective study of 142 first IVF cycles of women aged 30 to 35 who had undergone stimulation with 100 IU or 150 IU of rFSH. RESULTS: The mean dose of rFSH used was smaller in the low dose compared with the high dose group (999 vs. 1343 IU; p<0.001), obtaining comparable numbers of mature oocytes in both groups. Additionally, reducing the mean number of embryos transferred from 1.8 to 1.5 significantly decreased the twin rate in the low dose group while maintaining similar pregnancy rates in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to develop mild IVF using GnRH agonist long protocol in women with good prognosis. A reduced amount of rFSH and fewer transferred embryos allow for lower costs and risks of IVF without compromising the pregnancy rate.