Pretreatment with oral contraceptive pills in women with PCOS scheduled for IVF: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Gao Jun , Mai Qingyun , Zhong Yiping , Miao Benyu , Chen Minghui , Luo Lu , Zhou Canquan , Mol Ben W 
Published: April 2024

STUDY QUESTION

What is the effect of pretreatment with oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) on oocyte and embryo quality and pregnancy rates in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) scheduled for IVF/ICSI cycles?

SUMMARY ANSWER

In women with PCOS who underwent a first or second IVF/ICSI cycle with a GnRH antagonist protocol and were randomized to start ovarian stimulation immediately, the quality of cleavage-stage embryos was non-inferior to pretreatment with OCP.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

PCOS in Asian populations is characterized by high levels of circulating LH in the early follicular phase. Previous studies indicated that inappropriately high LH levels might affect oocyte maturation and fertilization rates, and impaired embryo quality, consequently resulting in higher rates of impaired pregnancy and miscarriage in women with PCOS. OCPs are frequently used as pretreatment to lower LH levels in PCOS patients.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We performed a randomized controlled trial. After informed consent, women diagnosed with PCOS scheduled for their first or second IVF/ICSI cycle with a GnRH antagonist protocol were randomized to receive OCPs (OCP group) or start ovarian stimulation immediately, regardless of the day of the menstrual cycle (non-OCP group). Using a non-inferiority hypothesis, the sample size was calculated at 242 women. The study lasted from 7 February 2018 to 31 August 2021.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

A total of 242 infertility patients with PCOS undergoing the first or second cycle of IVF or ICSI were enrolled and randomized into two groups. In the OCP group, recombinant FSH was started on Day 7 of the washout period after pretreatment with OCP. In the non-OCP group, recombinant FSH was started immediately regardless of the day of the menstrual cycle. All participants received standardized GnRH antagonist ovarian stimulation. The freeze-all strategy was applied to all participants. The primary outcome was the number of good-quality embryos on Day 3 after insemination. Secondary outcomes included the rates of blastocyst formation, implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth from the first frozen/warmed embryo transfer cycles and cumulative live birth rates.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

We randomized 242 women to receive OCP (n = 121) or start immediately with ovarian stimulation (n = 121). The number of good-quality embryos on Day 3 in the OCP group was non-inferior to the non-OCP group (OCP group versus non-OCP group, 6.58 ± 4.93 versus 7.18 ± 4.39, AD −0.61, 95% CI: −1.86 to 0.65, P = 0.34). The rates of blastocyst formation (55.4% versus 52.9%, relative risk (RR) 1.11, 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.28, P = 0.17), implantation (63.0% versus 65.5%, RR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.53 to 1.53, P = 0.79), clinical pregnancy (67.9% versus 68.8%, RR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.54 to 1.71, P = 1.0), and live birth rate (52.8% versus 55.1%, RR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.53 to 1.56, P = 0.79) of the first frozen/warmed embryo transfer cycles were all comparable between the OCP and non-OCP group, respectively. Cumulative live birth rates were also similar in the OCP and non-OCP groups (78.3% versus 83.5%, respectively RR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.36 to 1.42, P = 0.39).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Only patients with PCOS in Southern China were recruited. Therefore, caution is necessary when generalizing our results to all such patients with PCOS. Also, since a freeze-only strategy was used, the results of this study are only applicable when infertile women with PCOS undergo the freeze-only method. The obvious treatment difference between the two groups meant that the study was designed as an open-label study for women and doctors. The study had a randomized controlled design that minimized bias.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Pretreatment with OCPs to lower LH levels in patients with PCOS before ovarian stimulation in IVF or ICSI cycles may not improve the quality of cleavage-stage embryos.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2023YFC2705503). This study was supported in part by the Investigator-Initiated Studies Program (grant from MSD and Organon). BWM reports consultancy, travel support, and research funding from Merck. He reports consultancy from Organon and Norgine, and also reports holding stock from ObsEva. No conflicts of interest are declared for the other authors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. chiCTR1800014822). URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=25280

TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE

7 February 2018.

DATE OF FIRST PATIENT’S ENROLLMENT

22 February 2018.