Urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is more effective than recombinant FSH in older women in a controlled randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
The following study was conducted to determine which FSH, recombinant or urinary, works better in older women.


METHODS
We conducted a controlled randomized study in a single university IVF center.


METHODS
University IVF center.


METHODS
Women (N = 257) over 39 years old undergoing IVF.


METHODS
The patients were randomized into two study groups at their first IVF cycle: 121 patients were treated with recombinant FSH, and 120 patients were treated with urinary FSH. Both groups were suppressed with a long GnRH analog protocol.


METHODS
Days of stimulation, E2 at the day of hCG, total amount of FSH administered, number of oocytes collected, amount of FSH per oocyte, and number of embryos obtained.


RESULTS
Patients treated with urinary FSH required a significantly lower total amount of FSH, and a lower amount of FSH per oocyte than women treated with recombinant FSH. The other measures evaluated did not show any statistically significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that urinary FSH performed better in older women than recombinant FSH when associated with the long protocol.
Mohamed
Mohamed A
MA
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Sbracia
Marco
M
Pacchiarotti
Arianna
A
Micara
Giulietta
G
Linari
Antonella
A
Tranquilli
Daniela
D
Espinola
Salomé M B
SM
Aragona
Cesare
C
D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D050477:Urofollitropin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050477:Urofollitropin