title: A comparative study of fixed-dose, step-down, and low-dose step-up regimens of human menopausal gonadotropin for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and safety of the fixed-dose, the step-down, and the low-dose step-up regimens of hMG for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven women with PCOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The fixed-dose, the step-down. and the low-dose step-up regimens were administered.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of growing follicles and serum hormone levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum FSH levels on the day of hCG administration were significantly higher in the fixed-dose regimen group than in the step-down and the low-dose step-up regimen groups, and the number of growing follicles (> or =11 mm) in the low-dose step-up regimen group was significantly smaller than in the fixed-dose regimen group. On the 7th day after hCG administration, the maximal diameter of the ovaries in the low-dose step-up regimen group was significantly smaller than in the fixed-dose and the step-down regimen groups, and the risk of excessive ovarian enlargement (> or =70 mm) was significantly lower in the low-dose step-up regimen group than in the fixed-dose regimen group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low-dose step-up regimen of hMG for patients with PCOS may be the safest protocol among the three stimulation regimens for reducing multiple follicular development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizunuma
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamijo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ibuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D008596:Menotropins