Absence of effect of adjuvant growth hormone therapy on follicular responses to exogenous gonadotropins in women: normal and poor responders.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of growth hormone (GH) on ovarian responses to exogenous gonadotropins after pituitary desensitization in normal and poor responder patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.


METHODS
A prospective study with comparison of control and GH-treated cycles.


METHODS
Poor responder patients (n = 10) required > 44 ampules of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) to achieve criteria for administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on day 0 or cancellation in control cycles, and normal responder patients (n = 10) required < 45 ampules.


METHODS
Ovarian responses to hMG assessed by duration of stimulation required to achieve first significant estradiol (E2) response and hCG criteria. Total doses and duration of hMG, follicular development and E2 concentrations on day 0, and embryology were also assessed.


RESULTS
Growth hormone showed no effect on any of the parameters studied in either patient group.


CONCLUSIONS
Follicular recruitment, E2 secretion by mature follicles, and oocyte yield and quality were uninfluenced by GH treatment.
Shaker
A G
AG
University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland.
Fleming
R
R
Jamieson
M E
ME
Yates
R W
RW
Coutts
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004958:Estradiol; D008596:Menotropins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone