[Treatment with LH-RH in female sterility]

The discovery that LH/RH was secreted in a pulsatile manner has made it possible to use the substance therapeutically in certain endocrine conditions of female sterility. 29 patients had sterility because of ovarian dysfunction. 3 of these were polycystic ovaries, 13 unexplained malfunction of ovulation and 30 hypothalamic in cause. They were treated with LH/RH intravenously. The dose used with each pulse was 6-18 micrograms. The patients were treated for between 18 and 30 days. In the 9 pregnancies that occurred (30%) one was in a patient with polycystic ovaries, 8 (70%) were in patients with hypothalamic ovarian failure. In each case the dose of LH/RH had been administered either at a level of less than 10 micrograms/pulse throughout the follicular phase with an injection of 5000 IU of HCG after ovulation or throughout the whole cycle. 77% of the pregnancies were obtained during the two first cycles of treatment. This work shows that hypothalamic female sterility is the proper indication for treatment using LH/RH. The protocol of dosage should be as economical as possible by administering 5-10 micrograms pulses intravenously up to the time that ovulation has been achieved. This takes note of the difficulties of obtaining supplies of the substance.