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Elevated day 3 FSH/LH ratio: a marker to predict IVF outcome in young and older women

  • ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the value of elevated day 3 FSH/LH ratio in predicting IVF results in young and older women.

Methods

One hundred seventy-four women with normal day 3 FSH levels undergoing IVF treatment were studied. Patients were divided into two groups according to basal FSH/LH ratio: Group 1(FSH/LH ≥3, n = 43) and Group 2 (FSH/LH <3, n = 131). The effects of FSH/LH ratio on IVF outcomes were compared. Also, the impact of elevated FSH/LH levels on younger (<35 years; n = 113) and older (≥35 years; n = 61) women was evaluated.

Results

Group 1 had significantly lower mean day 3 LH levels (p = 0.001), lower number of oocytes retrieved (p = 0.004) and lower clinical pregnancy rate (p = 0.04). Older women with elevated FSH/LH ratio (n = 23) had significantly lower transferred good grade embryo counts (p = 0.04) and lower pregnancy rate (p = 0.03) versus older women with lower FSH/LH ratio. But in younger women treatment outcomes were similar in both subgroups.

Conclusion

Elevated day 3 FSH/LH ratio is useful in predicting IVF outcome in older women, but does not seem to be an accurate predictor in younger women.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to our clinical and laboratory coworkers of the Department of the Reproductive Endocrinology.

Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Assisted Reproduction Unit, Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital, Güvenlik Avenue, Yazanlar Street 28/6, A.Ayrancı, 06540, Ankara, Turkey

    Berna Seckin, Figen Turkcapar & Gulnur Ozaksit

Authors
  1. Berna Seckin
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  2. Figen Turkcapar
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  3. Gulnur Ozaksit
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Berna Seckin.

Additional information

Capsule An elevated basal FSH/LH ratio in the presence of a normal basal FSH level is associated with poor IVF outcome in older women but not in young women.

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Seckin, B., Turkcapar, F. & Ozaksit, G. Elevated day 3 FSH/LH ratio: a marker to predict IVF outcome in young and older women. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 231–236 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9695-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9695-5

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