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Superovulation with a high gonadotropin dose for in vitro fertilization: Is it effective?

  • Clinical Assisted Reproduction
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Abstract

Purpose

Our purpose was to investigate the effect on the ovarian response of increasing the gonadotropin dose.

Methods

We analyzed retrospectively the in vitro fertilization data for patients who had two cycles of treatment, with a higher dose in cycle 2. The patients were stratified according to age, ovarian response, and gonadotropin dose in the first cycle. The main outcome measure was the number of follicles, eggs, and embryos and the peak estradiol (E2) level.

Results

The study included 244 patients. Patients in both age groups (n = 118, - <33 years; n = 126, > 33 years), low (n = 66) and intermediate (n = 145) responders, and patients who received < 225 IU folliclestimulating hormone (n = 175) in cycle I had a better response in cycle 2. However, the high responders (n = 33) and those who received 225 or 300 IU folliclestimulating hormone (n = 69) in cycle I showed a similar response in both cycles, except for a significantly higher E2 level in cycle 2.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that exceeding a daily dose of 300 IU is unrewarding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Department, Birmingham University, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Bl5 2TG, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

    Hany Lashen

  2. Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU, Oxford, UK

    William Ledger, Andrés López Bernal, Barbara Evans & David Barlow

Authors
  1. Hany Lashen
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  2. William Ledger
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  3. Andrés López Bernal
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  4. Barbara Evans
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  5. David Barlow
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Lashen, H., Ledger, W., Bernal, A.L. et al. Superovulation with a high gonadotropin dose for in vitro fertilization: Is it effective?. J Assist Reprod Genet 15, 438–443 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02744938

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02744938

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