title: Growth hormone co-treatment within a GnRH agonist long protocol improves implantation and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing IVF-ET.
abstract: The efficacy of growth hormone (GH) co-treatment within a GnRH agonist long regimen, in women with a normal ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH), for IVF was assessed.
  
  
  
  This retrospective clinical trial was performed in a private-assisted reproduction centre. The study involved 1114 patients who responded normally to high-dose gonadotropin treatment. The study group of 556 patients was given in a daily subcutaneous injection of 4.5 IU of GH co-treatment, starting from the initial day of gonadotropin treatment and lasting for 5 days. The control group of 558 patients received the same treatment protocol without the GH co-treatment. The participants were further divided into two subgroups: age ≥35 years and age <35 years. The primary endpoint of the study was IVF-ET outcomes.
  
  
  
  The demographic characteristics did not significantly differ between the groups. The implantation rate (36.7 vs. 20.4 %, P < 0.05) and clinical pregnancy rate (57.3 vs. 30.1 %, P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. An analysis using a multivariate logistic regression model showed that GH was a significant factor for predicting pregnancy outcomes (OR 3.125, 95 % CI 2.441-4.000). Furthermore, for the ≥35-year-old group, the endometrial thickness was significantly greater (11.99 ± 2.21 vs. 11.62 ± 2.45, P < 0.05) in the study group than in the control group; in contrast, for the <35-year-old group, the high-quality embryo rate was significantly higher (71.7 vs. 68.3 %, P < 0.05) in the study group than in the control group.
  
  
  
  Our study showed that co-treatment with GH in a GnRH agonist long protocol in patients who responded normally while undergoing IVF-ET could increase the implantation and pregnancy rates.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Jianshe Dong Road, Erqi District, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Jianshe Dong Road, Erqi District, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Jianshe Dong Road, Erqi District, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Jianshe Dong Road, Erqi District, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors.forename: Mengmeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Jianshe Dong Road, Erqi District, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. 13613863710@163.com.
authors.forename: Yi-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone
keywords: Agonist long protocol; Growth hormone (GH); Implantation rate; In vitro fertilization (IVF); Pregnancy rate