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6A - The Addition of LH/hCG to FSH Improves IVF Outcome

For

from Section II - IVF Add-ons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2021

Roy Homburg
Affiliation:
Homerton University Hospital, London
Adam H. Balen
Affiliation:
Leeds Centre for Reproductive Medicine
Robert F. Casper
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
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Summary

During the natural menstrual cycle both FSH and LH play important roles in the follicular phase, securing follicular growth and development resulting in competent oocytes capable of sustaining further development. It is well known that after an initial FSH rise in the early follicular phase, FSH becomes down-regulated in the middle of the follicular phase, while the concentration of LH remains relatively constant throughout the follicular phase. Selection of the dominant follicle takes place around the mid-follicular phase at a diameter of 8-10 millimetre. The selected follicle starts to develop LH receptors on the granulosa cells, while FSH receptor expression continues to decline until ovulation [1,2]. Thus, in the second half of the follicular phase both gonadotropins advance follicular growth with a key contribution from LH. In connection with ovarian stimulation (OS) and ART treatment, most protocols use either a GnRH-agonist or a GnRH-antagonist to secure low pituitary output of gonadotropins, especially LH. Therefore, OS protocols don’t mimic normal physiology and usually provide supraphysiological concentrations of FSH, while LH/hCG typically is considerably lower than physiological concentrations. Thus, what are requirements of LH/hCG and should a lower threshold concentration be surpassed or preferentially be in the physiological range to improve IVF outcome? Many different meta-analyses have compared the use of HMG and FSH for OS to answer this question, but depending on inclusion criteria different results have been obtained – one favouring one conclusion over the other, while the opposite conclusion remains a valid option.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

Jeppesen, JV, Kristensen, SG, Nielsen, ME, et al. LH-receptor gene expression in human granulosa and cumulus cells from antral and preovulatory follicles. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97:1524–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kristensen, SG, Mamsen, LS, Jeppesen, JV, et al. Hallmarks of human small antral follicle development: implications for regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis and selection of the dominant follicle. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018;8:376.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Westergaard, LG, Erb, K, Laursen, SB, Rex, S, Rasmussen, PE. Human menopausal gonadotropin versus recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in normogonadotropic women down-regulated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist who were undergoing in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a prospective randomized study. Fertil Steril. 2001;76:543–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mannaerts, B. A double-blind, randomized, dose-finding study to assess the efficacy of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist ganirelix (Org 37462) to prevent premature luteinizing hormone surges in women undergoing ovarian stimulation with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (Puregon). The ganirelix dose-finding study group. Hum Reprod. 1998;13:3023–31.Google Scholar

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