Similar pregnancy and spontaneous abortion rates after treatment with low-dose human menopausal gonadotropin versus pure follicle stimulating hormone in women with luteal phase defects.

The study presented herewith was designed to compare the pregnancy and abortion rates in patients treated with gonadotropin preparations with and without LH content based on data suggesting that higher serum LH levels during the follicular phase may reduce subsequent pregnancy rates and increase spontaneous abortion rates. Infertile patients with luteal phase defects related to releasing eggs prior to complete follicular maturation were treated with either ultra-low dose (75 IU) hMG or pure FSH. The pregnancy rates for first treatment cycles for hMG versus pure FSH was 22.7% and 20.3%, respectively. The spontaneous abortion rates were also similar (8.0% and 9.1%). There were no multiple births resulting from these 36 pregnancies. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was not observed in any of the 164 stimulation cycles. Thus these results show no advantage in choosing a preparation devoid of LH therefore giving the patient the opportunity to purchase the least expensive medication that is available.