Could the addition of hp-hMG and GnRH antagonists modulate the response in IVF-ICSI cycles?

OBJECTIVE: To assess if the luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin present in some gonadotropin formulations may be of benefit in protocols with GnRH antagonists. METHODS: Open, quasi-experimental, multicenter, prospective, parallel-controlled study compared 136 women undergoing in vitro fertilization--intracytoplasmic sperm injection after stimulation with highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin (hp-hMG) (n = 44), recombinant-follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH) (n = 46), or a combination of both (r FSH + hp-hMG) (n = 46) following an antagonist protocol. Blood determinations were made on day 6 of stimulation and on the day of ovulation induction, with centralized analysis. RESULTS: No differences were found in the ongoing pregnancy rates between groups [37.0% versus 29.5% (hp-hMG) and 23.9% (r-FSH); p = 0.688]. However, the ratio top-quality embryos/retrieved oocytes (TQE/RO) was higher in the combined therapy group (19.6%)--reaching significance versus the r-FSH group (6.5%) (p = 0.008), but not versus hp-hMG (12.3%) (p = 0.137). CONCLUSIONS: An improved TQE/RO ratio was obtained together with a greater percentage of frozen embryos in the patients that incorporated hp-hMG to their stimulation protocol. Despite good results of adding hp-hMG, non statistical differences were found in terms of ongoing pregnancy rate.