Pregnancy rates in varying age groups after in vitro fertilization: a comparison of follitropin alfa (Gonal F) and follitropin beta (Follistim).
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to assess the efficacy of two recombinant follicle-stimulating hormones, follitropin beta (Follistim, Organon, West Orange, NJ) and follitropin alfa (Gonal F, Serono, Norwell, Mass) on pregnancy rates in varying age groups of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).


METHODS
Three hundred sixty-five IVF cycles were retrospectively compared, 233 by use of follitropin beta and 132 by use of follitropin alfa, both after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist down-regulation. Assignment to each medication was indiscriminate. The primary outcome measured was pregnancy evidenced by fetal heartbeat on ultrasonography. Secondary outcomes included days of stimulation, ampules per patient cycle, estradiol level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, total follicles present on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, follicles greater than 14 mm, oocytes retrieved, mature eggs, fertilization rate, and embryos transferred. Outcomes were stratified by age, including women less than 36 years old, 36 to 39 years old, and more than 39 years old.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between follitropin beta and follitropin alfa in either the primary or secondary outcomes, although the pregnancy rate was significantly decreased with advancing age.


CONCLUSIONS
Success rates are similar, when stratified by age, in women undergoing IVF with either follitropin beta or follitropin alfa.
Williams
R Stan
RS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. williams@obgyn.ufl.edu
Vensel
Theresa
T
Sistrom
Christopher L
CL
Kipersztok
Simon
S
Rhoton-Vlasak
Alice
A
Drury
Ken
K
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D038681:Follistatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D038681:Follistatin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone