Induction of multiple follicular growth in normally menstruating women with endogenous gonadotropin suppression

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 45; no. 2; pp. 226 - 230
• Main Authors: Fleming, Richard, Coutts, John R.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.1986; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Buserelin - pharmacology; Chorionic Gonadotropin - pharmacology; Corpus Luteum - drug effects; Estradiol - biosynthesis; Estradiol - blood; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - methods; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hypogonadism - blood; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Medical sciences; Menotropins - pharmacology; Menstrual Cycle; Ovarian Follicle - drug effects; Ovarian Follicle - physiology; Progesterone - blood; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Ultrasonography; Human; HMG; Ovulation inducer; Menstrual cycle; Ultrasonic investigation; Peptide hormone; Estrogen; Gonadotropin RH; Gonadotropin; Luteinization; Glycoprotein hormone; HCG; Ovulation; Biological activity; Hypothalamic hormone; Ripening; Pituitary hormone; Analog; Echography; Hormonal regulation; Steroidogenesis; Progesterone; Sex steroid hormone; Ovarian follicle
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)49159-4

Patients with normal menstrual rhythm and normal luteinizing hormone were treated with exogenous gonadotropins to induce multiple follicular development. This was effected in the absence (34 cycles in 12 patients) or with concurrent suppression of endogenous gonadotropin levels with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (84 cycles in 18 patients). In the absence of the analog, “premature” luteinization occurred in 51% of cycles before the ultrasonic visualization of a follicle with a diameter of 20mm. In the analog-treated cycles, premature luteinization was almost totally eliminated and progesterone elevations were delayed until after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin. Follicular estrogen production was unaffected by the analog treatment, compared with hypogonadal patients treated with exogenous gonadotropins. The characteristics of follicular development showed that two to three follicles of mature size were induced with this technique, and the capacity for the induction of a larger number of follicles was evident.