Assessment Of The Value Of Adding LH Activity During The Late Stages Of Follicular Maturation In ICSI Cycles

Sherif Sharkawy, Hamdy Azab, Maha ElShahed, Medhat Amer, Wael Fayek

Abstract


Objective: To evaluate the value of providing LH activity during the later stages of follicular development.

Methods: 473 couples assigned into 2 groups were recruited for this study. Long down regulation protocol was used for all patients. Highly purified FSH was used throughout the stimulation period in the control group (group A). In the study group (group B), it was replaced with highly purified human menopausal gonadotropins when the leading follicle was 10-12 mm.
Our primary aim was to compare the outcome in terms of clinical pregnancy rate.
Secondary outcomes included the number of stimulation days, total amount of FSH administered, total number of embryos, and number of cancelled cycles.

Results: The clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group B compared to group A (40% versus 29%, p < 0.05).The number of stimulation days was significantly higher in the group B compared to group A (p < 0.01). The total number of FSH ampoules used was significantly higher in group B compared to group A (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding the total number of embryos and the number of cancelled cycles

Conclusion: Our data suggest that adding LH activity in later stages of follicular maturation may improve the clinical pregnancy rate.

Key words: highly purified FSH, HP-HMG, LH activity, follicular maturation, ICSI cycles


References


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