Luteinizing hormone concentrations after gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist administration do not influence pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer

Objective: To determine the impact of circulating LH concentrations during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation on the outcome of IVF. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): Two-hundred seventy women who had a short stimulation protocol with GnRH antagonist and ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH (rFSH). Intervention(s): GnRH antagonist and rFSH were administered SC; blood samples were collected on the day of GnRH antagonist administration, I day after, and on the day of hCG administration. Main Outcome Measure(s): A threshold of 0.5 IU/L on the day of hCG was chosen to discriminate between women with LH concentrations less than or equal to0.5 IU/L (group A, n = 119) or >0.5 IU/L (group B, n = 151). Result(s): The two groups were comparable with regard to the clinical parameters. In group A, significantly lower LH concentrations were observed on day 9 of the cycle and on the day of hCG administration. The numbers of oocytes retrieved, embryos obtained, and embryos cryopreserved were significantly higher in group A compared with group B. The proportion of clinical pregnancies was similar in the two groups (21.1% vs. 22.7% per ET). Conclusion(s): In GnRH antagonist and rFSH protocols, suppressed serum LH concentrations do not have any influence on the final stages of follicular maturation, pregnancy rates, or outcomes. (C) 2004 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.