title: Comparison between clomiphene plus pulsatile human menopausal gonadotrophin and clomiphene plus pulsatile follicle stimulating hormone in induction of multiple follicular development in women.
abstract: Eighteen normally cycling women with tubal infertility undergoing in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer were treated with clomiphene only (nine cycles), clomiphene plus human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) (18 cycles) and clomiphene plus follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (12 cycles). Clomiphene was given from day 2 to 6 (150 mg daily). HMG and FSH were injected s.c. in a pulsatile manner via a pump (28 IU every 3 h). Plasma FSH and oestradiol levels and the number of follicles greater than or equal to 16 mm in diameter were similar in the clomiphene/HMG and the clomiphene/FSH cycles, but significantly higher than in the clomiphene-only cycles. In contrast, luteinizing hormone and progesterone levels during the treatment did not differ significantly among the three regimens. Twelve of the 18 women were treated with clomiphene/HMG in one cycle and clomiphene/FSH in another and eight of them with clomiphene only in a third cycle (a total of 32 cycles). In the clomiphene/HMG cycle seven of these 12 women (58%) had plasma FSH levels during treatment similar to those in the clomiphene/FSH cycle and six of them (86%) had the same number of follicles in both cycles. A significant, but not very strong correlation was found between FSH treatment levels and the number of follicles greater than or equal to 16 mm when all 32 cycles were combined (r = 0.40). It is suggested that pulsatile HMG and FSH in combination with clomiphene are in general equally effective in inducing multiple follicular development in normal women. However, individual responses show great variability.
mesh_terms: D002996:Clomiphene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002996:Clomiphene; D008596:Menotropins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone