Table 1.
Characteristics of inculded studies
| Author (year) | Conflict of interest | Ethical approval | Time of randomization | Time frame | Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria | Sample size | Intervention | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haas et al. (2020) [14] | None | Yes | Morning of the trigger day | 2016–2018 | Age 18–41 y; BMI 18–35 kg/m2; AMH > 1 ng/ml; AFC 6–20; FSH < 20 IU/l; first three IVF cycle | E2 levels > 15,000 pmol/l; moderate–severe endometriosis | 146 | hCG 10,000 IU and GnRH agonist 0.5 mg | hCG 10,000 IU and placebo |
| Mahajan et al. (2016) [21] | None | Yes | NR | NR | Aged 24–43; AMH < 4 ng/ml; AFCs/ovary < 12 | None | 76 | hCG 5000 IU and GnRH agonist 1 mg | hCG 10,000 IU |
| Ali et al. (2020) [13] | None | Yes | NR | 2016–2018 | First ICSI cycle; aged less than 40 y; BMI 18–30 kg/m2; AMH > 1 ng/ml; normal, mild or moderate male factor infertility | Azoospermic males | 160 | 250 IU of recombinant HCG and GnRH agonist 1 mg | 250 IU of recombinant HCG |
| Schachter et al. (2008) [24] | NR | Yes | Onset of intervention | NR | Failed at least one IVF-ET cycle on GnRH agonist long protocol; hysterosalpingogram or hysteroscopy history; BMI 18–30 kg/m2; | Lack of oocytes aspirated in previous cycles; | 211 | hCG 5000 IU and GnRH agonist 0.2 mg | hCG 5000 IU |
| Haas et al. (2019) [19] | None | Yes | NR | 2015–2017 | Poor responders defined with the Bologna criteria. | None | 23 | hCG 6500 IU and GnRH agonist (dose not reported) | hCG 6.500 IU |
| Eftekhar et al. (2017) [20] | None | Yes | Leading follicles reached 17 mm in diameter | 2014–2015 | Aged less than 42 y; BMI 18–30 kg/m2; moderate ovarian response | Endocrine disorders; PCOS; UA; RIF; azoospermia; day-3 FSH ≥ 10 IU/L or AMH ≤1.0 ng/mL | 192 | hCG 6500 IU and GnRH agonist 0.2 mg | hCG 6.500 IU |
| Kim et al. (2014) [22] | NR | Yes | NR | NR | Women with regular ovulatory cycles | PCOS, metabolic disorders | 120 | 250 μg rhCG and GnRH agonist 0.1 mg | 250 μg rhCG and placebo |
| Decleer et al. (2014) [23] | NR | Yes | NR | 2011–2013 | Tubal or male infertility, BMI < 32, age ≤ 38 y, frst, second and third IVF cycle. | Azospermia, UA, PCOS, endocrine disorders, endometriosis | 120 | hCG 5000 IU and GnRH agonist 0.2 mg | hCG 5000 IU |
Abbreviations: NR not reported, NS no special, ET embryo transfer, IVF in vitro fertilization, ICSI intracytoplasmic sperm injection, 2PN two pronuclei, OHSS ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, PCOS polycystic ovarian syndrome, BMI body mass index, PGT preimplantation genetic screening, RIF repeated implantation failure, UA uterine anomalies, AMH anti-Mullerian Hormone