Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
08:46
Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
Published on: September 16, 2021
Who needs LH in ovarian stimulation?
C Alviggi1, R Clarizia, A Mollo
1Dipartimento di Scienze Ostetriche Ginecologiche Urologiche e Medicina della Riproduzione-Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy. alviggi@unina.it
Reproductive Biomedicine Online
|May 18, 2011
Summary
Supplementing luteinizing hormone (LH) activity during ovarian stimulation improves outcomes for specific patient groups, including older women and those at risk for poor response. This targeted approach enhances oocyte retrieval in fertility treatments.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Ovarian Stimulation Protocols
Background:
- Luteinizing hormone (LH) is crucial for folliculogenesis.
- While follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is standard for ovarian stimulation, some women may benefit from LH supplementation.
- Identifying specific patient subgroups who benefit from LH activity is key for optimizing IVF outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of luteinizing hormone (LH) activity supplementation in specific patient populations undergoing ovarian stimulation.
- To determine if LH supplementation improves oocyte retrieval in women with a 'steady response' to GnRH-agonist protocols.
- To assess the impact of LH addition in women at risk for poor ovarian response treated with GnRH antagonists.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of outcomes in young normogonadotrophic patients receiving recombinant human FSH (r-hFSH) with or without LH supplementation from stimulation day 8.
- Comparison of ovarian response in patients at risk for poor ovarian response treated with GnRH antagonists using flexible protocols with or without concomitant recombinant human LH.
- Evaluation of oocyte retrieval rates and mature oocyte yield in different patient subgroups based on age and ovarian response.
Main Results:
- In a subgroup (10-12%) of young normogonadotrophic patients on GnRH-agonist long protocol plus r-hFSH, LH supplementation from day 8 increased oocyte retrieval compared to standard FSH dose increase.
- In women at risk for poor ovarian response treated with GnRH antagonists in a flexible protocol, adding recombinant human LH improved the number of mature oocytes retrieved versus standard GnRH-agonist flare-up protocols.
- LH administration demonstrated improved ovarian outcomes in patients over 35 years, those with initial abnormal responses to r-hFSH monotherapy, and 'low prognosis' women on GnRH antagonists.
Conclusions:
- Well-calibrated LH administration can enhance ovarian stimulation outcomes in carefully selected patient groups.
- LH supplementation is beneficial for specific subgroups, including women of advanced reproductive age and those with predicted poor ovarian response.
- Targeted LH addition optimizes IVF treatment strategies, potentially increasing the number of retrieved oocytes and improving success rates.
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