Clinical outcome following stimulation with highly purified hMG or recombinant FSH in patients undergoing their first treatment cycle of IVF or ICSI.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether the clinical efficiency of recombinant FSH (rFSH) and highly purified human menotrophin (hMG) differs in terms of pregnancy and live birth rates during the first treatment cycle of IVF or ICSI.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital.


METHODS
Records of 1,136 infertile couples undergoing their first IVF (n = 682) or ICSI (n = 454) treatments were reviewed. The effect of hMG and rFSH was analyzed for the IVF and ICSI groups separately.


METHODS
Patients received long term down-regulation with GnRH agonist and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with hMG or rFSH. Oocytes were fertilized by IVF or ICSI. Embryos were transferred on Day 2.


METHODS
Primary outcome measures were pregnancy and live birth rates, secondary outcome measures were duration of treatment, doses of hMG or rFSH applied, number of oocytes retrieved and the number and quality of embryos obtained.


RESULTS
Similar pregnancy and live birth rates were observed with hMG and rFSH. Compared to hMG, treatment cycles with rFSH were characterized by significantly shorter stimulation, lower gonadotrophin consumption, and increased number of oocytes and embryos.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that rFSH and hMG are equivalent in terms of clinical efficacy.
Bjercke
Sverre
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. sverre.bjercke@rikshospitalet.no
Tanbo
Tom
T
Abyholm
Thomas
T
Omland
Anne
A
Opøien
Hans Kristian
HK
Fedorcsak
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D002064:Buserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009865:Oocytes; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013997:Time Factors
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D006728:Hormones; D008596:Menotropins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002064:Buserelin