Improved pregnancy rates with luteinizing hormone supplementation in patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF

Introduction Luteinizing hormone (LH) is believed to play a role in follicle maturation during the natural cycle. However, the need for co-treatment with recombinant LH (rLH) for controlled ovarian stimulation is controversial. Purpose The primary objective of our study was to determine if pregnancy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 2012-07, Vol.29 (7), p.579-583
Main Authors: Paterson, Nicole D., Foong, Shu C., Greene, Calvin A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Androgens
Assisted Reproduction Technologies
Birth rate
Cohort analysis
Cohort Studies
Embryo Implantation
Embryology
Embryos
Female
Fertility
Fertilization
Fertilization in Vitro
Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human
Follicles
Gestational age
Gynecology
Human Genetics
Humans
Luteinizing hormone
Luteinizing Hormone - administration & dosage
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Oocytes
Ovarian Follicle
Ovaries
Ovulation Induction
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Rate
Reproductive Medicine
Retrospective Studies
Supplementation
Ultrasonic imaging
Uterus
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Summary:Introduction Luteinizing hormone (LH) is believed to play a role in follicle maturation during the natural cycle. However, the need for co-treatment with recombinant LH (rLH) for controlled ovarian stimulation is controversial. Purpose The primary objective of our study was to determine if pregnancy rates are improved when rLH is used in addition to rFSH for ovarian stimulation. Secondary outcomes were fertilization rate, implantation rate and live birth rate. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed of 1565 IVF or ICSI cycles. Outcomes were compared between ovarian stimulation cycles from 2007 when rLH and rFSH was used ( n  = 765) to 2006 when rFSH only was used (n-800). Results Improved outcomes were found for rLH + rFSH versus rFSH alone for; pregnancy rate (61% and 54% respectively, p  = 0.006), live birth rate (49% and 42% respectively, P  = 0.01), fertilization rate (74% versus 72% respectively, p  = 0.04 and implantation rate (41% versus 37% respectively, p  = 0.03). Conclusions Our large retrospective cohort study showed an improved pregnancy rate and live birth rate with rLH supplementation. This was associated with an improved fertilization and implantation rate and therefore may reflect an improvement in oocyte quality and/or uterine receptivity.
ISSN:1058-0468
1573-7330
DOI:10.1007/s10815-012-9740-z