Background

Infertility is a common condition affecting more than 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide [1, 2]. Since the birth of the first IVF conceived baby in 1978, millions of couples have received this treatment which in broad terms includes controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, fertilization in vitro and embryo transfer.

In humans, spontaneous ovulation is preceded by a surge in both follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH, which is thought to induce final oocyte maturation. In the conventional controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) regimen, final follicular maturation is triggered by a single bolus of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which acts as a surrogate to the naturally occurring LH surge to induce luteinization of the granulosa cells, resumption of meiosis and final oocyte maturation [3]. As with other aspects of the COS regimen, triggering of final follicular maturation has become the subject of research interest during the last decade, in an attempt to further improve IVF success rates [4]. It has been demonstrated that ovulation can also be triggered by GnRH agonist, which acts to stimulate the release of endogenous hormones (mainly FSH and LH) required for the final follicular maturation [5]. Subsequently, many studies have compared the effects of hCG trigger versus GnRH agonist trigger in an IVF cycle. Studies examining GnRH agonist single trigger found oocyte and/or embryo quality to be at least comparable leading then to the exploration of the dual trigger, the concomitant administration of GnRH agonist and standard bolus hCG for final follicular maturation [4, 6]. Dual trigger improves oocyte maturation while providing more sustained support for the corpus luteum [7, 8]. Furthermore, the use of dual trigger reduces the required dose of hCG, which is more applicable in women with risk factors for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome [7, 8].

Several studies have indicated that dual trigger treatment may be associated with increased clinical pregnancy and live birth rates compared with the hCG trigger alone [9,10,11,12]. Most of these studies are retrospective cohort studies and limited by potential confounding factors. The results of recent two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing live birth rate (LBR) after dual trigger and single hCG trigger are conflicting [13, 14]. A previous meta-analysis including four randomised trials, showed that dual trigger significantly improved clinical pregnancy rate compared with hCG trigger [15]. However, this meta-analysis did not report on LBR due to the absence of data in all included studies. Additionally, the included studies were of a small sample size and low quality, and therefore the findings warrant further confirmation. Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of dual trigger compared with hCG trigger on IVF outcomes.

Methods

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Only randomized trials that compared the effect of dual trigger with hCG trigger for final oocyte maturation in women undergoing IVF were included. Studies not written in English were excluded. Reviews, conference abstracts, case reports, observational studies, and study protocols were also excluded.

Literature search

Two authors (KL.H and X.Y) independently searched the database of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web Of Science up to July 2020. The key search terms included “GnRH agonist”, “dual trigger”, “hCG trigger”, “in vitro fertilization”, “randomized trials”. The detailed search terms and methods could be found in Supplemental Table 1. References from all included studies were also reviewed to identify relevant articles not captured by the electronic searches.

Study selection

Two authors (KL.H and X.Y) independently scrutinized all of the titles and abstracts according to the predefined inclusion criteria. Full manuscripts of the studies considered for inclusion were then carefully reviewed. Any disagreement towards the study inclusion was resolved by a third author (D.Z).

Data extraction

Two authors (KL.H and X.Y) independently extracted data from included studies. In cases where we identified a study with multiple publications, the main trial report was used as the reference and additional details were supplemented from other papers.

Study quality assessment and publication bias

Two reviewers (KL.H and S.W) independently conducted the quality assessment of the included studies. To evaluate the risk of bias, we followed the Cochrane Collaboration’s criteria (Version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2)). Funnel plot was used to assess the publication bias for the primary outcome.

Statistical analysis

The Review Manager version 5 was used to analyze the extracted data. Because studies included in the meta-analysis reported continuous results with different effect size (mean with standard deviation, mean difference with 95% confidence interval (CI), or mean with standard error (SE)), we transformed all of the effect size of continuous outcomes into mean difference with SE according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 6.1, 2020. Available from https://training.cochrane.org/handbook/current). The results were combined for meta-analysis using the Mantel/Haenszel model. A fixed-effects model was used where no statistically significant heterogeneity was present (I2 < 50%). When substantial heterogeneity was observed (I2 > 50%), a random-effect meta-analysis was used. The discontinuous results were shown by risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI. The continuous results were shown by the difference in means with 95% CI. Statistical significance was set at a P level of 0.05. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to rate the quality of evidence of studies included in the meta-analysis by two independent reviewers and four levels of evidence were determined (very low, low, moderate, and high) [16].

Outcomes

The primary outcome was the live birth rate (LBR) per started cycle defined as the total number of participants with at least one baby born after 24 weeks of gestation divided by the total number of started cycles resulting in ovulation trigger. Secondary outcomes included the number of oocytes collected, the number of mature (MII) oocytes collected, the number of fertilised oocytes (2PN), and the number of usable embryos as well as the implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) rate per started cycle. Implantation rate was defined as the number of gestational sacs observed divided by the number of embryos transferred [17, 18]. Clinical pregnancy rate was defined as the number of the cases with a pregnancy diagnosed by ultrasonographic visualization of one or more gestational sacs or definitive clinical signs of pregnancy divided by the total number of started cycles [17, 18]. Ongoing pregnancy rate was defined as the number of cases with at least one live intrauterine fetus after 12 weeks gestation divided by the total number of the started cycles. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was defined as an exaggerated systemic response to ovarian stimulation characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical and laboratory manifestations [17, 18]. The number of usable embryos was defined as the number of embryos at either cleavage or blastocyst stage suitable for transfer and/ or cryopreservation.

Results

Characteristics of the included studies

The PRISMA flow diagram of the review process is presented in Fig. 1. A total of 8 randomized trials were included for analysis and no multiple publications were identified [13, 14, 19,20,21,22,23,24]. The characteristics of the included studies are presented in Table 1. The included studies were published between 2008 to 2020. A total of 1048 participants were included in the analysis, with 519 in the dual trigger group (intervention group) and 529 in the hCG trigger group (control group). Sample sizes varied from 23 women to 211 women. Participants were randomized on the day of trigger in two of the included studies [14, 24] and the day that the leading follicles reached 17 mm in diameter in one study [20]. The remaining studies did not specify the time of randomization. Most trials enrolled women with an age range from 18 to 42 years and body mass index (BMI) 18.0–30.0 kg/m2 [13, 14, 20, 23, 24]. Three trials excluded women with polycystic ovarian syndrome [20, 22, 23]. One trial enrolled women with poor ovarian response defined by Bologna criteria [19]. One trial enrolled women with a moderate ovarian response [20]. The overall participant population included mostly women with expected normal ovarian response based on age, BMI and baseline AFC, FSH and AMH levels, excluding PCOS (n = 3) or patients with established or increased risk for a high ovarian response. The exception was a single study performed in poor responders with a small sample size [19]. Therefore, a sensitivity analysis was conducted by excluding this study. The detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria in each study are summarized in Table 1. The GnRH antagonist protocol for pituitary down-regulation was used in all of the included studies. In the intervention group, the dose of GnRH agonist varied from 0.1 mg to 1 mg and the dose of hCG was the same with the control group in all studies except Mahajan (2016), which used 5000 IU hCG in the intervention group and 10,000 IU in the control group. One study was a double-blind design with the placebo and 10,000 IU hCG used as control [14]. Three studies reported live birth per cycle [13, 14, 22]. The secondary outcomes reported in each study are summarized in Table 1. All studies included for meta-analysis were randomised trials. Assessment for risk of bias is displayed in Figs. 2 and 3. Most studies were at high risk of bias and only two studies were of good quality [25, 26]. The funnel plot showed no significant publication bias for the included studies (Supplemental Figure 1). Risk of bias summary and each risk of bias item are presented as percentages across all included studies and are displayed in Supplemental Figure 2 and Supplemental Figure 3, respectively. The outcomes reported in each study and definitions for the outcomes were summarized in Table 2. Notably, Haas et al. (2019) and Decleer et al. (2014) reported the outcome of ongoing pregnancy but in fact it was clinical pregnancy. In our meta-analysis, the data was extracted as the clinical pregnancy (Fig. 2).

Fig. 1
figure 1

The PRISMA flow diagram of the review process

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Table 1 Characteristics of inculded studies
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Fig. 2
figure 2

A. Meta-analysis of studies reporting the cumulative live birth rate per participant; B. Meta-analysis of studies reporting the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle; C. Meta-analysis of studies reporting the ongoing pregnancy rate per cycle; D. Meta-analysis of studies reporting the implantation rate per cycle

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Fig. 3
figure 3

A. Meta-analysis of studies reporting the number of oocytes retrieved; B. Meta-analysis of studies reporting the number of mature oocytes; C. Meta-analysis of studies reporting the number of the fertilized oocytes; D. Meta-analysis of studies reporting the number of usable embryos

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Table 2 Outcomes with definitions of the inculded studies
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Primary outcome

LBR per started cycle

Three studies compared the live birth rate per cycle between the dual trigger group and the hCG trigger group (Fig. 2a). Meta-analysis suggested that the dual trigger treatment was associated with a significantly higher live birth rate per cycle than the hCG trigger (RR = 1.37 [1.07, 1.76], I2 = 0%, moderate evidence).

Secondary outcome

Clinical pregnancy rate per started cycle

Seven studies reported clinical pregnancy rate (Fig. 2b). Meta-analysis suggested that dual trigger treatment was associated with a significant increase in clinical pregnancy rate compared with hCG trigger treatment (RR = 1.29 [1.10, 1.52], I2 = 13%, low evidence). A sensitivity analysis, excluding the study done in poor responders, showed dual trigger treatment significantly increased the clinical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.29 [1.10, 1.52], I2 = 26%, low evidence) [19].

Ongoing pregnancy rate per cycle

Two studies reported the ongoing pregnancy rate (Fig. 2c). Meta-analysis suggested that dual trigger was associated with a non-significant increase in ongoing pregnancy rate (RR = 1.34 [0.96, 1.89], I2 = 0%, low evidence).

Implantation rate per cycle

Three studies reported implantation rate (Fig. 2d). Meta-analysis suggested that dual trigger treatment was associated with a non-significant increase in implantation rate (RR = 1.31 [0.86, 1.97], I2 = 73%, low evidence). A sensitivity analysis, excluding the study with low quality and induced the significant heterogeneity of meta-analysis showed dual trigger treatment significantly increased the implantation rate (RR = 1.61 [1.27, 2.03], I2 = 0%, moderate evidence) [23].

The mean difference in the number of oocytes retrieved

The data regarding the number of oocytes collected was available to be extracted and synthesized in all of the included studies (Fig. 3a). Meta-analysis suggested that dual trigger treatment was associated with a significant increase in the number of oocytes collected (MD = 1.52 [0.59, 2.46], I2 = 53%, low evidence). A sensitivity analysis, excluding the study done in poor responders showed dual trigger treatment confirmed this finding (MD = 1.64 [0.58, 2.70], I2 = 59%, low evidence) [19].

The mean difference in maturate oocytes collected

Data regarding the number of maturated oocytes collected was available to be extracted and synthesized in six studies (Fig. 3b). Meta-analysis suggested that dual trigger treatment was associated with a significant increase in the number of maturate oocytes collected (MD = 1.01 [0.43, 1.58], I2 = 18%, low evidence).

The mean difference in the number of fertilized oocytes

Data comparing the number of fertilized oocytes was available to be extracted and synthesized in five studies (Fig. 3c). Meta-analysis suggested that dual trigger treatment was associated with a significant increase in the number of fertilized oocytes (MD = 0.73 [0.16, 1.30], I2 = 7%, low evidence). A sensitivity analysis, excluding the study done in poor responders, showed similar association (MD = 0.85 [0.18, 1.48], I2 = 24%, low evidence) [19].

The mean difference in the number of usable embryos

Data regarding the comparison of the number of usable embryos was available to be extracted and synthesized in five studies (Fig. 3d). Meta-analysis suggested that dual trigger treatment was associated with a significant increase in the number of usable embryos (MD = 0.90 [0.42, 1.38], I2 = 0%, low evidence).

OHSS per started cycle

Three studies reported on OHSS rate in the participants. Dual trigger treatment was not associated with an increase in OHSS (RR = 1.00 [0.14, 7.34]) (Supplemental Figure 4) however none of the three studies had a clear definition of OHSS. There were no cases of OHSS in two of the included studies [14, 23]. Another study reported four OHSS cases, with two cases in the dual trigger group and two in the hCG group [22].

Discussion

This systematic review included eight randomized control studies for quantitative analysis. We found that dual trigger treatment was associated with a significantly higher LBR per cycle than the single hCG trigger (moderate evidence).

It is proposed that GnRH agonist administration induces an FSH surge in addition to the LH surge which better mimics normal physiology. This promotes the dissociation of the oocyte from the follicular wall and the formation of LH receptors in luteinizing granulosa cells as well as keeping gap junctions open between the oocyte and cumulus cells and promoting oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion [27]. Previous studies demonstrate that both FSH and LH hormones are significantly elevated after GnRH agonist treatment [6, 24, 28]. Furthermore, in animal studies, increasing the incubation concentrations of GnRH agonist significantly enhances preimplantation embryonic development, indicating a direct GnRH–GnRH receptor activation on the embryo [29]. GnRH agonist administration may also facilitate embryo implantation by modulating corpus luteum function, or in a direct effect on the endometrium [30].

Studies regarding the possible benefits of dual triggering are conflicting. Emerging evidence suggests that the total number of retrieved oocytes, the number of mature oocytes, and usable embryos are significantly increased after triggering with GnRH agonist and hCG compared with the conventional triggering with hCG alone [11, 31]. Furthermore, dual trigger treatment was associated with increased implantation and clinical pregnancy rates [9,10,11,12, 31]. However, most of these studies are retrospective in design and thereby limited by potential confounding factors. A previous meta-analysis of four RCTs found no significant difference between the two trigger treatment groups in terms of the number of total oocytes retrieved, the number of mature (MII) oocytes retrieved, the number of fertilized oocytes or the implantation rate. However, the number of good-quality embryos and the ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly increased in the dual trigger group [15]. This meta-analysis study was limited by the small number of included trials and the small sample sizes of these studies [15]. Additionally, none of the included RCTs reported on live birth rate [15]. Therefore the finding of no difference may be explained by the small sample size because our study also concluded that there was no significant increase in implantation rate (four included RCTs) and ongoing pregnancy rate (two RCTs) after the dual trigger. When we excluded the low-quality study for sensitivity analysis, the dual trigger was demonstrably associated with a significant increase in implantation rate. Although ongoing pregnancy rate was not significantly increased in the dual trigger group, the risk ratio was quite similar to live birth rate (1.34 versus 1.31), indicating that the small sample size may be responsible for the finding of no difference. These results highlight that future trials should better be designed well and report all available outcomes. Our study also suggests that the number of oocytes retrieved, mature MII oocytes retrieved, fertilised oocytes, and usable embryos are significantly increased after dual trigger treatment. The larger number of included studies and the larger sample size in our meta-analysis may explain this finding. Although our study shows that dual trigger treatment was associated with a significant increase in LBR, only three studies report this outcome. Future studies should report this important outcome.

It should be noted that one trial included in our meta-analysis enrolled patients with a poor ovarian response [19], while other trials enrolled women with a moderate response or used ovarian reserve markers in the inclusion criteria. The heterogeneity of the participants makes it difficult to conduct subgroup analysis in women with different ovarian responses. Only 4 OHSS cases were reported, with two cases in the dual trigger and another two in the hCG trigger group. The results indicate that dual trigger is unlikely to increase the OHSS rate compared to hCG trigger treatment. Previous retrospective studies indicate that dual trigger can reduce the OHSS rate in predicted high responders [32, 33]. Because most trials included in our study enroll women with a moderate response, whether the dual trigger is more applicable in high or moderate or poor responders requires further confirmation [10, 32, 33]. Additionally, no consensus has been reached towards the best dose of GnRH agonist and hCG in the dual trigger treatment. The possibility to use a low-dose of hCG in the dual trigger treatment may be limited by the lack of low-dose hCG formulations.

The strength of this study is that only randomised trials were included in the meta-analysis. Additionally, the evidence towards the comparison of live birth rate between the dual trigger and the hCG trigger is moderate. The main limitation of this study is the low quality of most studies included in the meta-analysis and the risk of bias associated with poor reporting of methods in the included studies. More robust evidence should be provided by trials with a larger sample size and good design.

In conclusion, this systematic review suggests that dual trigger treatment is associated with a significant increase in clinical pregnancy and LBR in IVF cycles and that the effect is potentially mediated by an increase in the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos.