Pilot study of the optimal protocol of low dose step‐up follicle stimulating hormone therapy for infertile women

Purpose To evaluate the optimized protocol of low dose follicle‐stimulating hormone ( FSH ) therapy that has a starting dose of 50 IU/62.5 IU with a small increment dose (12.5 IU) for women with World Health Organization ( WHO ) II ovulatory disorder and unexplained infertility. Methods Anovulatory women with WHO group II ovulatory disorder (ovulation induction [ OI ] patients, n = 29), and with an unexplained infertility (ovarian stimulation [ OS ] patients, n = 21) were enrolled. The protocol of low dose step‐up FSH therapy was optimized for the starting dose as 50 IU (body mass index [ BMI ] < 20 group) and 62.5 IU ( BMI ≥ 20 group) with the increment dose of 12.5 IU . Study outcomes were ovulation, monofollicular development and other variables. Results In the OI patients, the ovulation rate was 100% ( BMI < 20 group) and 90.9% ( BMI ≥ 20 group). Monofollicular development was 80.0% ( BMI < 20) and 77.3% ( BMI ≥ 20). The pregnancy rate was 60% (3/5 BMI < 20) and 18.2% (4/22 BMI ≥ 20). There was no multiple pregnancy. In the OS patients, the ovulation rate was 100%. Monofollicular development was 85.7% (BMI < 20) and 76.6% (BMI ≥ 20). No pregnancy was achieved in the OS patients. Conclusion Optimized protocol of low dose FSH therapy setting a starting dose 50 IU /62.5 IU by BMI with an increment dose of 12.5 IU was safe and highly effective in WHO group II anovulatory patients. However, this protocol seemed uneffective for patients with unexplained infertility.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

26 more references, whose wording the paper’s licence keeps private.

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.