Might retrigger with human chorionic gonadotropin be a solution for empty follicle syndrome after gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist trigger?

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether the use of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as a trigger could offer a potential solution for addressing empty follicle syndrome following the administration of a trigger for gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist.

Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using data extracted from the hospital database pertaining to 415 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) with an antagonist protocol triggered by a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist between December 2019 and January 2023 at the Acıbadem Maslak Hospital Assisted Reproductive Technologies Unit. All cases that failed to obtain oocytes and required rescue were analyzed.

Results: This study analyzed 415 women who underwent IVF using GnRH agonist-triggered antagonist protocols. Among them, 6 (1.4%) had empty folicle syndrome (EFS). Patients with EFS had lower luteinizing hormone levels and fewer oocytes, embryos, and blastocysts, resulting in lower oocyte utilization rate. However, pregnancy rates were similar, with no biochemical or ectopic pregnancies observed in the EFS group.

Conclusion: Use of an hCG retrigger in hyperresponders with no oocytes after GnRHa trigger may prevent cycle cancelation. Although the rates of egg utilization may decrease, oocyte maturity remains comparable. Frozen embryo transfer following hCG retrigger administration yields similar positive pregnancy test results and live birth rates.