[The effect of co-administration of low dosage growth hormone and gonadotropin for ovarian hyperstimulation in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer]

Abstract

The co-administration of low dosage growth hormone (GH) and gonadotropin (Gn) to women with suboptimal response to GnRH-a/hMG/hCG hyperstimulation regimen during previous cycles in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) might be beneficial by promoting the maturation of oocytes, improving the fertilization rate and increasing the number of embryos replaced. Our results showed the pregnancy rate increased significantly. However, this protocol neither enhanced ovarian response to Gn, nor reduced Gn dosage required for follicular recruitment. The levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the co-treatment group increased from 150 +/- 44 micrograms/L to 222 +/- 46 micrograms/L (P < 0.01) during the administration of GH. These increased significantly as compared with the control group. The present study showed that the administration of GH in low doses is effective.