Open AccessThe novel oral gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor antagonist relugolix is a new option for controlled ovarian stimulation cycles
Author(s) -
Komiya Shinnosuke,
TsuzukiNakao Tomoko,
Asai Yoshiko,
Inoue Tomoko,
Morimoto Yoshiharu,
Okada Hidetaka
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
reproductive medicine and biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1447-0578
pISSN - 1445-5781
DOI - 10.1002/rmb2.12448
Subject(s) - gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist , oocyte , human chorionic gonadotropin , gonadotropin , agonist , antagonist , hormone antagonist , stimulation , medicine , andrology , gonadotropin releasing hormone , endocrinology , hormone , pharmacology , receptor , biology , luteinizing hormone , embryo , microbiology and biotechnology
Purpose Relugolix is an oral gonadotropin‐releasing hormone antagonist (GnRHant), which was first introduced in 2019. This study investigated the effects of the conventional injectable GnRHant formulation and this new oral GnRHant formulation on controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycles. Methods Relugolix was administered in 126 cycles and conventional GnRHant injection was administered in 658 cycles (controls). The follicle stimulation was performed by an antagonist method, and for final oocyte maturation, recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (rHCG), or gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), or both (dual trigger) were selected. The number of retrieved oocytes was counted and then they were evaluated for subsequent development up to cleavage stage. Results The number of retrieved oocytes which was the primary outcome of this research was affected by the combination of GnRHant type and the final oocyte maturation agent. The combination of relugolix and a GnRHa trigger showed a significantly lower number of retrieved oocytes ( p < 0.001) than the other combinations. Conclusions Relugolix is a new option for COS cycles, but should be carefully combined with the final maturation agent. Clinical trial approval This study was conducted after approval by the Medical Corporation Sankeikai Institutional Ethics Committee (approval number: 2019‐34).