title: Controlled ovarian stimulation with exclusive FSH followed by stimulation with hCG alone, FSH alone or hMG.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess if low-dose hCG is similar to hMG and to rFSH in the late follicular phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective randomized controlled trial, 51 patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation received ovarian priming with rFSH and then received hCG (200 IU/day) (hCG group, n=17), hMG (225 IU/day) (hMG group, n=17) or rFSH (200 IU/day) (FSH group, n=17) in the late stage of follicular development. Parameters of follicular response and serum estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-ovulatory ovarian follicle occurrence and length of treatment were similar among the three treatment groups. Serum progesterone level on the day of pre-ovulatory hCG was significantly higher in the hCG group than in the hMG or rFSH group. Clinical pregnancy rates were similar for all groups. The total cost of treatment was significantly lower for the hCG group than for the groups supplemented with hMG or rFSH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LH in the form of low-dose hCG during the late follicular phase induced the same follicular pattern as hMG and rFSH after ovulation induction. The procedure using hCG produced pregnancy rates similar to those obtained using hMG and rFSH, even though the patients showed higher serum progesterone levels on the hCG day.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana K O
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Carolina S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Marcos D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Luiz A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Manetta
authors.forename: Stael P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Rosana M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Rui A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ferriani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008596:Menotropins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011374:Progesterone; D008596:Menotropins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone