title: A comparative prospective study of conventional regimen with chronic low-dose administration of follicle-stimulating hormone for anovulation associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare efficiency of conventional and chronic low-dose regimens for treatment of anovulation associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty participants divided into two equal groups. The first group was treated with urinary human FSH using a conventional stepwise protocol and the second group was treated with a regimen of chronic low-dose and small incremental rises with urinary human FSH or with recombinant human FSH for a maximum of three cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral university hospital fertility unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty infertile women with clomiphene citrate-resistant anovulation associated with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pattern of follicular development, amount of FSH required, serum E2 concentrations, cycle fecundity, cumulative conception, and live birth rates. Multiple pregnancy and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the conventional dose protocol, the chronic low-dose regimen yielded slightly improved pregnancy rates (40% versus 24%) while completely avoiding OHSS and multiple pregnancies, which were prevalent (11% and 33%, respectively) with conventional therapy. Monofollicular development was induced in 74% versus 27% of cycles, and the total number of follicles > 16 mm and E2 concentrations were half those observed on conventional therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For women with PCOS, a chronic low-dose regimen of FSH eliminated complications of OHSS and multiple pregnancies while maintaining a satisfactory pregnancy rate. This modality, thus, has distinct advantages and could well replace conventional gonadotropin therapy for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Fertility Unit, Golda Meir Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Homburg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben-Rafael
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002996:Clomiphene; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone