title: Follitropin-alfa for ovarian stimulation during assisted reproduction treatment: a national collaborative study.
abstract: This prospective, observational study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of follitropin-alfa for ovarian stimulation in routine clinical practice. The study involved a large, unselected population of women. Stimulation parameters and treatment outcomes were documented for 767 patients who underwent a total of 1098 cycles of follitropin-alfa according to the clinic's standard protocol. Stimulation lasted a median of 11 days and used a cumulative dosage of 28 ampoules of 75 IU follitropin-alfa. Pituitary down-regulation was used in 81.2% of cycles, predominantly by the long protocol. The desired ovarian development was achieved in 99.5% of cycles and embryo transfer took place in 86.9% of cycles, with an average of 2.5 embryos transferred. The clinical pregnancy rate was 39.5% and the miscarriage rate was 12.2%. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was observed in only 12 cycles (1.1%). In conclusion, follitropin-alfa is effective and well tolerated for ovarian stimulation during routine clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Katzorke
authors.forename: Hugo C.
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blechschmidt
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelly