Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Background:Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a potentially severe iatrogenic complication of controlled ovarian stimulation. Combining coasting and cabergoline may be beneficial for preventing OHSS, but this has not been well investigated. Objectives:To compare the effectiveness and safety of combined cabergoline and coasting versus coasting alone for preventing OHSS in high-risk women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). Methods:The present double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted at Al-Ahram Fertility Center (Mansoura, Egypt) between January 2016 and December 2018. 200 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI at high risk of OHSS were equally randomized to coasting or combined coasting and cabergoline. The main measured outcomes were the rate and severity of OHSS, number of retrieved oocytes, number and quality of embryos, as well as rates of fertilization, implantation,chemical, and clinical pregnancy. Results:The combination group has a lower rate of OHSS (4% vs. 18%, p 0.001) and higher number of good embryos (12.1 ±3.93 vs. 6.9 ±2.67; p< 0.00). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes as well as the rates of fertilization, implantation,chemical, and clinical pregnancy

Issued also as CD