Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 8, 1997-2002,
August 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Basal serum levels of FSH and estradiol in ovulatory and anovulatory women undergoing treatment by in-vitro maturation of immature oocytes
McGill Reproductive Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 1A1, Canada
BACKGROUND: The study aim was to establish whether basal serum levels of FSH and estradiol are predictive of outcome in women undergoing treatment by in-vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes. METHODS: Data were obtained from 123 unstimulated IVM cycles. Serum was taken between cycle days 2–4 for analysis. Patients received 10 000 IU of HCG 36 h before immature oocyte recovery that was performed between cycle days 9–14. IVM was performed and mature oocytes fertilized by ICSI, followed 2–3 days later by embryo transfer. Outcome measures included the number of immature oocytes retrieved, and the rates of oocyte maturation, fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy. RESULTS: A median (range) of 8 (0–36) immature oocytes was retrieved per patient. Oocyte maturation, fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy rates were 83, 76, 93 and 17.9% respectively. Serum FSH levels and the presence of polycystic ovary were significant independent predictors of the number of immature oocytes retrieved, whilst patient age and basal estradiol level were not. A basal serum estradiol level >100 pmol/l was associated with a significantly higher pregnancy rate (26 versus 11% for estradiol <100 pmol/l; P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of basal serum levels of FSH and estradiol are useful in predicting the number of immature oocytes retrieved and the pregnancy rate in women undergoing unstimulated IVM treatment.
Key words: estradiol/FSH/in-vitro maturation/oocytes/predictive variables
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: 25 Mill Lane, Oxford OX3 0QB, UK. E-mail: Timothychild{at}yahoo.com