Recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) supplemented with low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin compared with rFSH alone for ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization.

Low-dose hCG supplementation was administered at the start of ovarian stimulation, concomitantly with recombinant FSH (rFSH) in GnRH antagonist cycles, and these were compared with GnRH-a cycles that used rFSH alone. The low-dose hCG group had similar implantation and pregnancy rates but had significantly reduced rFSH requirements, allowing for an average cost savings of $600 per cycle.

Does the timing of mock embryo transfer affect in vitro fertilization implantation and pregnancy rates?

The timing of a mock embryo transfer does not affect in vitro fertilization implantation or pregnancy rates. Performing a mock embryo transfer at the time of oocyte retrieval, 3 to 5 days before embryo transfer, does not have a deleterious effect on the endometrium.

Measuring estradiol levels after human chorionic gonadotropin administration for in vitro fertilization is not clinically useful.

A retrospective analysis of 844 IVF-ET cycles demonstrated that changes in E(2) levels after administration of hCG do not influence fertilization, implantation, pregnancy, or live-birth rates. In vitro fertilization cycles with a declining E(2) level have comparable success to those with no change or increasing E(2) levels and should proceed to oocyte retrieval.

A randomized controlled trial of increasing recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone after initiating a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

Objective: Pituitary suppression with a GnRH antagonist before IVF may result in a plateau or decrease in estradiol levels. We sought to investigate the effect of increasing recombinant FSH (rFSH) after starting a GnRH antagonist on estradiol levels, implantation rates, and pregnancy rates.

Design: Prospective, randomized multicenter study.

Efficacy of brief couples support groups developed to manage the stress of in vitro fertilization treatment.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of brief couples support groups offered concurrently with in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Patients And Methods: Couples in IVF treatment were given the option of participating in a biweekly support group at the IVF clinic at Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Tex. At least 1 member of 26 couples participated in the brief couples support groups, and at least 1 member of 19 other couples completed the questionnaires but did not attend the support group sessions and so comprised the control group.