Luteinizing hormone increases estradiol secretion but has no effect on progesterone concentrations in the late follicular phase of in vitro fertilization cycles in women treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and follicle-stimulating hormone.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the late follicular phase increase in circulating P concentrations during controlled ovarian stimulation with GnRH-a and FSH can be influenced by addition of LH to the stimulating gonadotropin during the final 2 days.
DESIGN: Randomization of patients to receive either FSH alone or FSH with LH (hMG) for the final 2 days before hCG, after follicular phase stimulation with purified FSH.
SETTING: A.C.S. Unit at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, U.K. PATIENT(S): Patients were unselected and were undergoing IVF. INTERVENTION(S): Patients received stimulation with purified FSH (300 IU/d) until a follicle of 15 mm was observed; the regimen was then changed to either 225 IU of FSH or 225 IU of hMG. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Estradiol and P in the peripheral circulation. RESULT(S): Significant increases in E2 concentration were observed, but there were no changes in the circulating progesterone. CONCLUSION(S): The late follicular phase increase in P is unrelated to any luteinizing process attributable to effects in the circulation or sensitization of follicular cells to LH.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes