Effects of adding luteinizing hormone activity to gonadotropin  releasing   hormone antagonist protocols may differ according to age.
OBJECTIVE
In spite of previous reports on the beneficial effects of adding exogenous luteinizing hormone (LH) activity to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocols for conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), these effects in various age groups are still controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of adding LH activity to GnRH antagonist protocols according to patient's age.


METHODS
In this medical record review, responses to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and IVF/ICSI outcomes were compared between follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) alone and FSH supplemented with LH activity groups in women < or =35 years (n=135) and those 435 years (n=97), respectively.


RESULTS
Estradiol level on hCG day in LH-added group was higher (2.150.6+1.345.1 pg/ml vs. 1.606.2+994.6 pg/ml, P=0.011) in women < or =35 years, while it did not differ in those 435 years. Less oocytes were retrieved in LH-added group of women 435 years (8.1+6.5 vs. 5.7+3.0, P=0.013), however, this figure did not differ in those < or =35 years. Regardless of age, the clinical pregnancy rates were not different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation of exogenous LH activity to GnRH antagonist protocols affects the COH outcomes. These LH-adding effects may vary according to patient's age.
Kim
Yong Jin
YJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Ku
Seung-Yup
SY
Jee
Byung Chul
BC
Suh
Chang Suk
CS
Kim
Seok Hyun
SH
Choi
Young Min
YM
Kim
Jung Gu
JG
Moon
Shin Yong
SY
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone