title: A prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in three different in vitro fertilization protocols.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the following IVF protocols: a short protocol and long protocols starting on day 2 or day 21. All protocols used recombinant FSH (rFSH) for ovarian stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An assisted reproduction unit at a university center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing IVF (n = 150) were treated according to one of the three treatment protocols allocated by a random method.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients used buserelin acetate and rFSH. Patients began the long protocol on day 2 (group 1) or day 21 (group 2) of the cycle. Patients in group 3 began the short protocol on day 2 of the cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovarian response, implantation rates, and pregnancy rates (PRs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients treated with the short protocol (group 3) were stimulated in a shorter time, required less rFSH, and achieved higher E(2) levels. The numbers of follicles, oocytes, and embryos were similar in all three groups. The implantation rates were similar in groups 1 and 2 (11.8% and 13.3%, respectively), and both were higher than in group 3 (4.1%). Clinical PRs per oocytes retrieved were 19.6%, 18.6%, and 8.3% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implantation rate was significantly higher with the long protocols than with the short protocol, with a tendency for a higher PR as well.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Family Clinic and Flick Laboratories, Department of Reproductive Medicine and Science, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK. aravhon@bezeqint.net
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ravhon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lawrie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ellenbogen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lavery
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trew
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Winston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002064:Buserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002064:Buserelin