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, 1 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 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.