A spontaneous luteinizing hormone surge is beneficial in women with unexplained infertility undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation without in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a spontaneous luteinizing hormone (LH) surge influences the pregnancy and miscarriage rate in women with unexplained infertility undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) without in vitro fertilization.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Ovulation Induction Clinic, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia.


METHODS
145 patients with unexplained infertility who underwent 374 cycles of COH.


METHODS
Two types of ovarian stimulation protocols were used: human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) alone or hMG and clomiphene citrate (CC). A spontaneous LH surge occurred in 54% of the total cycles. All patients received human chorionic gonadotrophin, whether or not a spontaneous LH surge occurred. All cycles were covered by natural intercourse.


METHODS
Cycle pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate in cycles with or without a spontaneous LH surge.


RESULTS
The cycle pregnancy rate of the LH surge group was significantly higher than that of the no LH surge group for CC/hMG cycles (16.4% and 4.3% respectively, p = 0.02) but not for hMG alone cycles (12.8% and 10% respectively, P > .05). The miscarriage rate was not significantly different between the LH surge group and no LH surge group in either the CC/hMG cycles (30% and 75% respectively, P > .05) or the hMG alone cycles (22% and 38% respectively, P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
In women with unexplained infertility undergoing COH with CC/hMG, the occurrence of a spontaneous LH surge is a favorable event associated with a significantly increased pregnancy rate. The data showed a lower miscarriage rate, but there was insufficient power to confirm or refute this result.
Costello
M F
MF
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia.
Hughes
G J
GJ
Garrett
D K
DK
Hanjani
A
A
Steigrad
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D002996:Clomiphene; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone