Subcutaneously administered Menopur, a new highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin, causes significantly fewer injection site reactions than Repronex in subjects undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Background: The safety and tolerability of a new highly purified, urine-derived human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) preparation [Menopur] was compared with a currently available hMG [Repronex] in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multicenter study conducted in subjects undergoing IVF. Women (N = 125), 18-39 years of age, underwent pituitary down-regulation with leuprolide acetate beginning 7 days prior to onset of menses and continuing up to the day before hCG administration.

A Markov model of the cost-effectiveness of human-derived follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) versus recombinant FSH using comparative clinical trial data.

This study compared the cost and effectiveness of highly purified, human-derived follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (Bravelle) to recombinant FSH (Follistim) using Markov modeling and Monte Carlo simulation. One IVF treatment cycle resulted in costs of 11,584 dollars +/- 211 dollars for human-derived FSH and 12,762 dollars +/- 170 dollars for recombinant FSH, while three treatment cycles, holding the transition probabilities of the first cycle constant for the next two cycles, resulted in costs of 22,712 dollars +/- 1,107 dollars for human-derived FSH and 24,935 dollars +/- 1,205 dollars for recombinant FSH.

American Society for Reproductive Medicine: reaching its full potential.

The domestic members of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine have voiced their opinions and beliefs about the Society and contemporary issues in reproductive medicine.

A survey of the practices and opinions of the domestic members of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Objective: To learn how the domestic members of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) use its services and to survey their opinions regarding clinical practices and research in reproductive medicine.

Design: A self-administered mail survey.

Setting: Members of a professional organization.

Evaluation of mixed protocols with Bravelle (human-derived FSH) and Repronex (hMG) to assess clinical efficacy (EMBRACE) in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of three different ratios of human-derived follicle-stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotropin (human-derived FSH:hMG, Bravelle and Repronex) mixed together in the same syringe and administered subcutaneously once daily, to in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients <34 years or 34 to 40 years of age.

Design: Two randomized, prospective, age stratified, IVF studies.

Setting: Twenty-one academic and private clinics with experience in IVF/embryo transfer (ET).