A comparison of treatments with exogenous FSH to promote folliculogenesis in patients with quiescent ovaries due to the continued administration of an LH-RH agonist.
The circulating levels of plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and oestradiol (E2) have been determined in three groups of three subjects during the continuous, subcutaneous administration of an LH-RH agonist (250 micrograms/day) and after the intramuscular injection of urinary FSH (group I, 150 IU daily for 8 days, total 1200 IU; group II, 300 IU on alternate days for four injections, total 1200 IU; and group III, 150 IU on alternate days for four injections, total 600 IU). The level of circulating FSH in group I rose steadily from a geometric mean of 1.11 (pre-injection) to 8.76 U/l (at day 8), while the corresponding levels in groups II and III fluctuated according to the time and dose of the injected material. Twenty-four hours after the injection the mean level of FSH in group II was significantly higher (7.31 U/l) than the corresponding value for group I (2.79 U/l) or group III (3.48 U/l). Only those subjects in group II showed a resumption of folliculogenesis (leading, mean maximum follicular diameters of 16, 13 and 14 mm, respectively) and a corresponding increase in the concentration of plasma E2 (from 22, 43 and 103 to 906, 1477 and 2362 pmol/l, respectively).
D000328:Adult; D002064:Buserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002064:Buserelin