title: Luteinizing hormone concentrations after gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist administration do not influence pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of circulating LH concentrations during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation on the outcome of IVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred seventy women who had a short stimulation protocol with GnRH antagonist and ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH (rFSH).
  
  
  METHODS
  GnRH antagonist and rFSH were administered SC; blood samples were collected on the day of GnRH antagonist administration, 1 day after, and on the day of hCG administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  A threshold of 0.5 IU/L on the day of hCG was chosen to discriminate between women with LH concentrations <or=0.5 IU/L (group A, n = 119) or >0.5 IU/L (group B, n = 151).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were comparable with regard to the clinical parameters. In group A, significantly lower LH concentrations were observed on day 9 of the cycle and on the day of hCG administration. The numbers of oocytes retrieved, embryos obtained, and embryos cryopreserved were significantly higher in group A compared with group B. The proportion of clinical pregnancies was similar in the two groups (21.1% vs. 22.7 % per ET).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In GnRH antagonist and rFSH protocols, suppressed serum LH concentrations do not have any influence on the final stages of follicular maturation, pregnancy rates, or outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France. philippe.merviel@fcvnet.net
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merviel
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Antoine
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Millot
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mandelbaum
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uzan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone