TY - JOUR
TI - Addition of low-dose hCG to rFSH during ovarian stimulation for
IVF/ICSI: is it beneficial?
AU - Partsinevelos, G. A.
AU - Antonakopoulos, N.
AU - Kallianidis, K. and
AU - Drakakis, P.
AU - Anagnostou, E.
AU - Bletsa, R.
AU - Loutradis, D.
JO - Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology
PY - 2016
VL - 43
TODO - 6
SP - 818-825
PB - I R O G CANADA, INC
SN - 0390-6663
TODO - 10.12891/ceog3216.2016
TODO - hCG; ICSI; IVF; LH activity
TODO - Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the addition
of low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to ovarian stimulation
with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) on in vitro
fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcome.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective clinical study was conducted
on 141 women undergoing ICSI through a short GnRH-agonist protocol with
rFSH and the addition of low-dose (100 IU/day) hCG. The control group
consisted of 124 women undergoing ovarian stimulation with a similar
protocol devoid of hCG. Statistical analysis in the study population
along with a subgroup analysis for age >= 35 years and >= 36 years was
performed. Results: Women in hCG group were statistically significant
older and with higher basal FSH compared to control group. This can be
attributed to the Centre's latent tendency to add hCG in the stimulation
protocol in poor prognosis patients. Despite this fact and the fact that
several ovarian stimulation parameters, such as peak estradiol levels,
number of oocytes retrieved, number of mature oocytes, and fertilization
rates were in favor of the control group, the quality of transferred
embryos and pregnancy rates were in favor of hCG group. Similar results
were obtained in the subgroup analyses apart from peak estradiol levels,
which did not differ among the study groups. Conclusions: The addition
of hCG to rFSH may be associated with better quality embryos and higher
pregnancy rates, even in women of advanced reproductive age with higher
basal FSH levels, which are often considered to have poorer ovarian
reserve.
ER -