title: The induction of ovulation by pulsatile administration of GnRH: an appropriate method in hypothalamic amenorrhea.
abstract: The induction of ovulation by the means of a pump which assures the pulsatile administration of GnRH is a well-known method that applies to women suffering from amenorrhea of hypothalamic origin. Although a simple and efficient method to establish fertility, it is underused. Twelve patients suffering from this condition, 1 Kallmann syndrome, 4 normosmic isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and 7 functional hypothalamic amenorrhea desiring pregnancy were treated. They underwent one or more cycles of pulsatile GnRH, at a frequency of 90 minutes, either by the intravenous or the subcutaneous route. An initial dose of 5 μg per pulse in the intravenous route was administered and of 15 μg per pulse in the subcutaneous route. The treatment was monitored by regular dosing of gonadotropins, estradiol and progesterone, and the development of follicles and ovulation was monitored by intra-vaginal ultrasonography. All the patients had documented ovulation, after a mean of 17 days on pump stimulation. Single ovulation occurred in 30 of 33 treatment cycles, irrespective of the route of administration. Ovulation resulted in 10 pregnancies over 7 patients (2 pregnancies in 3 of them), distributed in the 3 diagnostic categories. For comparison, a patient with PCOS treated similarly, disclosed premature LH surge without ovulation.
authors.affiliation: a Service of Internal Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital , Lausanne , Switzerland , and.
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.affiliation: b Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital , Lausanne , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pitteloud
authors.affiliation: b Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital , Lausanne , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fulgencio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gomez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D055104:Infusions, Subcutaneous; D017436:Kallmann Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: GnRH pump; hypothalamic amenorrhea; ovulation induction