title: Ovulation induction with intravenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
abstract: The efficacy of ovulation induction with the use of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) therapy was examined in 21 infertile women. Seventeen had hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) and 4 polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO). All patients were treated as outpatients. GnRH was infused in a pulsatile mode by means of portable auto-infusion pumps connected to an indwelling intravenous catheter inserted into a forearm vein. The doses varied from 1.8 to 5 micrograms/pulse with a frequency of 90 minutes. Ovulation occurred in 52 out of 64 cycles (81.2%). Ten (47.6%) of the 21 patients became pregnant. Seven patients had normal term deliveries and 3 aborted spontaneously. With regard to the 17 patients with HA, ovulation occurred in 93.7% of treatment cycles and 6 women became pregnant. In the case of the PCO patients, ovulation was achieved in 6 out of 15 cycles (40%) and 2 women became pregnant. There was no overstimulation or any other serious complication. In conclusion, therapy with GnRH provides an elevated probability of therapeutic success, especially in HA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schivardi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falsetti
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Omodei
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scagliola
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gastaldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones