Observations on 320 infertile patients treated with human gonadotropins (human menopausal gonadotropin/human...

From 1964 to 1975, 320 patients with failure of ovulation were treated with human gonadotropins (human menopausal gonadotropin [HMG]/human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG]). Estimation of the pituitary and ovarian function of each patient rather than classification into clinical groups contributed positively to the selection of patients. The dosage schedules used for the patients should be considered conservative, insofar as the amount of HMG and HCG administered per treatment cycle is concerned. The response to human gonadotropins was evaluated mainly according to excretion levels of estrogen and pregnanediol. Of the 320 patients, 256 ovulated at least once during treatment with gonadotropins (80%). Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was encountered in 22 patients (6.8%). Pregnancy occurred in 163 patients (50.9%) and in some of them twice, so that the total number of pregnancies was 206. Fifteen pregnancies were multiple (all of them twins). Of 197 pregnancies followed, 43 ended in abortion and 36 in premature labor. Cesarian section was performed in 21 cases.