Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of ovulation suppression with progestins compared with GnRH analogs in assisted reproduction cycles

Abstract Research question Is ovulation suppression with progestins, requiring a freeze-all approach and subsequent frozen embryo transfer resulting from progestenic endometrial changes, cost-effective compared with gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues (GnRH) during assisted reproduction cycles. Design Cost-effectiveness analysis derived from a PubMed literature search of average US costs of GnRH agonist and antagonist IVF cycles. Results In all fresh IVF cycle models, progestin cycles were more expensive owing to the additional costs of increased gonadotropin use, embryo freezing and subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET). The average cost per live birth with progestins ($32,466–$56,194) was higher than fresh IVF cycles with short (flare) GnRH agonist ($4,447–$12,797 higher) and GnRH antagonist ($1,542–$9,893 higher). When analyzing an initial embryo transfer plus additional FET in patients not initially pregnant, progestin cycles were still more expensive per live birth compared with conventional protocols. When planned freeze only cycles were analyzed, progestins became more cost-effective per live birth compared with antagonist cycles ($2,079 lower) but remained more expensive than short agonist cycles ($823 more expensive). Conclusions Ovulation inhibition in IVF using progestins requires a freeze-only approach of embryos, and thus progestin use was not cost-effective compared with fresh embryo transfer cycles. Progestins, however, may be cost-effective compared with GnRH antagonist in planned freeze only cycles such as in preimplantation genetic testing or fertility preservation.