A randomized prospective cross-over study of highly purified follicle-stimulating hormone and human menopausal gonadotrophin for ovarian hyperstimulation in women aged 37-41 years.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we investigated the benefits of highly purified FSH (H.P. FSH) in comparison with human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) in IVF patients aged 37-41 years.


METHODS
Twenty patients experienced within a period of four months both preparations in subsequent cycles through a prospective randomized cross-over design. A standard hormonal treatment consisting of a flare-up protocol using gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in combination with the same starting dose of H.P. FSH or hMG was used in all cycles.


RESULTS
Cycles stimulated with H.P. FSH resulted in a significantly higher mean number (10.3 +/- 3) of ovocytes retrieved with a significantly shorter (13 +/- 2.3 days) duration of stimulation compared to cycles treated with hMG [mean number of oocytes 7.3 +/- 5 (P < 0.01) and mean duration of stimulation 14.7 +/- 3.9 days (P < 0.02)]. No detrimental effect of basal or exogenous LH on oocyte quality was observed in our study.


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience, H.P. FSH preparations seemed to be more effective than hMG preparations for ovarian stimulation in this group of women aged 37-41 years.
Bassil
S
S
Centre hospitalier de Luxembourg, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Wyns
C
C
Donnez
J
J
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009865:Oocytes; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone