Correlation of the Day 3 FSH/LH Ratio and LH Concentration in Predicting IVF Outcome

Abstract

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of day 3 FSH/LH ratio and day 3 LH level as predictors of IVF cycle outcomes.

Methods: This prospective observational study was undertaken in the IVF and Reproductive Biology Centre and Lok Nayak Hospital, affiliated to Maulana Azad Medical College, in New Delhi, India. The study included 105 women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization. Characteristics of IVF cycles and outcomes were studied in patient subgroups based on day 3 FSH/LH ratio (<2 and ≥2) and day 3 LH levels (>3 and ≤3 mIU/ml). The student t-test, Bartlett's test, chi-squred (χ(2) ) and Fisher's exact test, and linear regression model were used for data analysis. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: Women with an elevated FSH/LH ratio ≥2 (n = 31) required higher doses of gonadotrophins (3019.34 vs. 2482.43 IU). The outcome of IVF was poor in these patients and they had fewer number of mature follicles (>16 mm) (5.44 vs. 6.09), less E2/mature follicle ratio (4.65 vs. 6.36), fewer retrieved oocytes (6.67 vs. 9.09) and fewer pregnancy rates (11.1% vs. 33.8%). On the other hand, patients with low basal LH levels (≤3 mIU/ml) did not differ significantly in terms of response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation except for fewer number of retrieved oocytes (7.33 vs. 7.91) but there was a trend towards poor pregnancy rates (7.33 vs. 7.91) but there was a trend towards poor pregnancy rates as compared to subgroup with LH levels >3 mIU/ml.

Conclusion: Elevated day 3 FSH/LH ratio is associated with inferior outcome in IVF treatment cycles and it could be used as an additional predictor of decreased ovarian reserve.

Keywords: FSH; FSH/LH ratio; IVF outcome; LH; Ovarian hyperstimulation; Ovarian reserve.