Comparing rLH with hMG in embryo transfers at the stage of blastocyst and pregnancy outcomes in poor responders

Abstract

Despite showing the beneficial effects of adding LH activity to FSH, based on the pregnancy rate (PR) in patients in the previous studies, no studies have been done to compare two different gonadotrophin preparations with activity of LH in the same group of poor responders. The present study was a single-center retrospective one conducted in January 2015 - December 2019 among 30 women under 39 years old who had reduced ovarian reserve and underwent ICSI cycles. The same patient group received rFSH combined with hMG or rLH. The ovarian stimulation cycle began on the second day of the menstrual cycle, and the initial doses of gonadotrophin were 225 IU/day rFSH in addition to 75 IU/day hMG or 75 IU/day rLH. In all cycles, a flexible antagonist protocol was used. Adding rLH significantly increased the mean number of MII oocytes and cumulus oophorus complex (COC) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between poor responders treated with rLH or with hMG in terms of blastocyst transfer, implantation rates and clinical pregnancy rates (p>0.05). There should be further studies to confirm the better effect of rLH addition to rFSH than hMG in young poor responders. Interventions for poor responders obviously need large, randomized studies which were designed properly, due to the lack of evidence-based treatment to date for this particular patient group. © 2021 Ondokuz Mayis Universitesi. All rights reserved.