Figure 3.

The protocol for double oocyte pickup (OPU) is shown based on our mild stimulation protocol with CC and recombinant‐follicle‐stimulating hormone (r‐FSH)7 and is briefly described as follows. Patients received 50 mg of CC (Clomid^®; Merck) daily between D3 and D7 of the menstrual cycle, with or without 225 IU of r‐FSH (Gonal‐F^®; Merck) injection. The leading follicle should reach 17 mm in diameter, following a maturation trigger with either 5000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; HCG 5000F^®; Fuji Pharma) or 300 μg of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH)‐agonist (Buserequr^®; Fuji Pharma) performed 35 h before OPU. During OPU, follicles 12 mm or less in diameter were not punctured. On the day of OPU, ovarian stimulation with r‐FSH injection was started to induce growth in the smaller follicles. When the follicles reached 17 mm in diameter, the maturation trigger was completed, and 36 h later, a second OPU was performed. The embryos derived from the first and second OPU were cryopreserved