Human Reproduction, Vol. 14, No. 9, 2230-2235,
September 1999
© 1999 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
A prospective, randomized comparison of ovulation induction using highly purified follicle-stimulating hormone alone and with recombinant human luteinizing hormone in in-vitro fertilization
1 Center For Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The New York Presbyterian Hospital–Cornell Medical Center and 2 General Clinical Research Center, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
The commercial availability of highly purified, s.c. administered urinary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) preparations for ovarian stimulation marked the beginning of a new era in the treatment of infertility. As these new formulations contain essentially no luteinizing hormone (LH), supplemental LH may be needed for optimal folliculogenesis. It was the aim of this pilot study to compare fertilization rates, embryo morphology, implantation rates and pregnancy outcomes prospectively in two age-matched patient groups: women who received highly purified FSH (FSH-HP) (n = 17), and women who received FSH-HP plus recombinant human LH (rhLH, n = 14) throughout ovarian stimulation. All patients received mid-luteal pituitary down-regulation with s.c. gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) (leuprolide). Mean implantation rates were 26.9 and 11.9% in the FSH-HP only and FSH-HP + rhLH groups respectively. The mean clinical pregnancy/initiated cycle rate was 64.7 and 35.7% for the FSH-HP only and FSH-HP + rhLH patients respectively. FSH-HP patients and FSH-HP + rhLH patients achieved clinical pregnancy/transfer rates of 68.8 and 45.5% respectively. One patient in the FSH-HP + rhLH group had a spontaneous abortion; no pregnancy losses occurred in the FSH-HP only group. There were more cancellations for poor ovarian response among FSH-HP + rhLH patients (n = 3) than among FSH-HP patients (n = 1). The trend toward better pregnancy outcomes among patients who received FSH-HP without supplemental rhLH did not reach statistical significance. It is postulated that appropriate endogenous LH concentrations exist despite luteal GnRHa pituitary suppression, thereby obviating the need for supplemental LH administration.
Key words: FSH/IVF/ovulation induction/recombinant human luteinizing hormone
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: The Atlanta Reproductive Health Centre, Suite 320, 285 Boulevard NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30312, USA. email: dr.sills{at}ivf.com
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