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Outcome of in vitro fertilization in patients with proven poor ovarian responsiveness after early vs. mid-follicular LH exposure: a prospective, randomized, controlled study

  • ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objective

To compare early vs. mid-follicular exposure to LH in patients with poor ovarian responsiveness undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Setting

University Hospital, University-affiliated private Clinic.

Patients

Five hundred-thirty women with poor ovarian responsiveness during the first IVF cycle, undergoing their second IVF attempt.

Interventions

In a GnRH-analogue long protocol, ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH (300 IU/day) plus randomly assigned addition of recombinant LH (150 IU/day) from day 1 (early LH exposure; n = 264) or from day 7 (late LH exposure; n = 266).

Main outcome measure(s)

Primary outcome was the number of oocytes retrieved. Secondary outcomes were: cancellation rate, total gonadotropin dose, duration of ovarian stimulation, number of embryos available for transfer, pregnancy rate per started cycle, per OPU and per embryo transfer, implantation rate, delivered/ongoing pregnancy rate.

Results

Apart from the totally administered LH dose, that was significantly higher in the group receiving it from day 1, all parameters related to IVF outcome were non significantly different in the two groups.

Conclusions

Adding LH to FSH from day 1 or from day 7 of ovarian stimulation in a GnRH-agonist long protocol exerts comparable effects on IVF outcome in poor responders.

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Conflict of interest disclosure

Any of the authors had commercial interests that could represent a conflict of interest with what reported in the present manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, S. Anna Hospital, University of Torino, Via Ventimiglia 3, 10126, Torino, Italy

    Alberto Revelli, Alessandra Chiado’, Valentina Rovei & Gianluca Gennarelli

  2. LIVET Infertility and IVF Clinic, Torino, Italy

    Daniela Guidetti & Francesca Bongioanni

Authors
  1. Alberto Revelli
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  2. Alessandra Chiado’
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  3. Daniela Guidetti
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  4. Francesca Bongioanni
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  5. Valentina Rovei
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  6. Gianluca Gennarelli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alberto Revelli.

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Capsule

Adding LH to FSH from day 1 or day 7 of ovarian stimulation in a GnRH-agonist long protocol exerts comparable effects on IVF outcome in patients with poor ovarian responsiveness.

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Revelli, A., Chiado’, A., Guidetti, D. et al. Outcome of in vitro fertilization in patients with proven poor ovarian responsiveness after early vs. mid-follicular LH exposure: a prospective, randomized, controlled study. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 869–875 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9804-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9804-0

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