Maternal and neonatal outcomes after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist trigger for final oocyte maturation in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of congenital anomalies, obstetrical complications, and neonatal complications in antagonist cycles where either GnRH agonist (GnRHa) or hCG was used for final oocyte maturation.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: University-based tertiary fertility center.

PATIENT(S): Three hundred ninety-two women under 40 years of age who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation using a GnRH antagonist protocol and who had final oocyte maturation triggered with either a GnRHa or hCG that resulted in pregnancy and delivery after 16 weeks' gestation.

INTERVENTION(S): GnRHa versus hCG trigger of final oocyte maturation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Congenital anomaly rates, obstetrical complications, and neonatal complications.

RESULT(S): There were no significant differences in the rate of congenital anomalies between GnRHa and hCG trigger (6.6 vs. 9.2%). There were also no differences in the maternal complications (27.6 vs. 20.8%) or neonatal complications (19.7 vs. 20.0%) between the GnRHa trigger and hCG trigger groups.

CONCLUSION(S): GnRHa trigger does not affect the rate of congenital anomalies or obstetrical or neonatal complications and remains a viable option in the prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.