Developmental potential of retrieved oocytes for ICSI: the effect of reducing the LH dose during the stimulation phase of the long agonist protocol

ABSTRACT

Ovarian stimulation is an integral part of assisted reproductive technologies [ART]. Under physiologic conditions, both follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH] activity is necessary to guarantee follicle growth and maturation, and hence their developmental potential. To test the effect of reducing the LH content in the ovulation induction for infertile pituitary suppressed females undergoing ICSI on the maturity and developmental potential of the retrieved oocytes. Retrospective randomized study. Private infertility Center. 102 patients were included in the study, which were divided into two groups according to the stimulation protocol used. Group A [n=51] [Long agonist HMG-FSH protocol], and Group B [n=51] [Long agonist HMG only protocol]. Comparison between the two groups included, number of stimulation days, number of oocytes retrieved, maturity of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, Embryo grading, and pregnancy rate. Lowering the LH content in the stimulation phase did have a significant positive effect on the fertilization rate, and an insignificant positive effect on the cleavage rate. Although, lower LH doses resulted in less grade 1 embryos, it resulted in an insignificantly higher pregnancy rate, indicating the higher ability of these embryos to implant