Effect of HMG on ovarian folliculogenesis with and without pituitary down-regulation

ABSTRACT

comparison of ovarian follicular development using hMG stimulation with and without pituitary downregulation by a GnRH analogue. Design: A prospective study. Setting: At The Infertility Advisory Center, a private setup specializing in assisted methods of conception. Subjects: Sixty women selected to undergo in vitro fertilization [IVF] treatment for infertility for various indications. the patients were alternately assigned to one of the two protocols of ovarian stimulation the follicular development was monitored by serial vaginal ultrasonography and E[2] estimations. Stimulation cycles with suboptimal response were canceled. The patients in the two groups matched for age. In the completed cycles of treatment follicular development was comparable in both the protocols with regard to size, number and E[2] levels. Follicular growth in pituitary downregulated cycles was delayed but cycle cancellation rate was lower. hMG stimulation of ovaries with pituitary downregulation reduces the cycle cancellation rate but requiring longer administration of hMG increases the cost of treatment