Controlled ovarian stimulation with exclusive FSH followed by stimulation with hCG alone, FSH alone or hMG.
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.
Gomes
Mariana K O
MK
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
Vieira
Carolina S
CS
Moura
Marcos D
MD
Manetta
Luiz A
LA
Leite
Stael P
SP
Reis
Rosana M
RM
Ferriani
Rui A
RA
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
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011374:Progesterone; D008596:Menotropins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone