Comparison of serum and follicular fluid hormone levels with recombinant and urinary human chorionic gonadotropin during in vitro fertilization

ObjectiveTo study serum and follicular fluid (FF) hormone levels after the administration of urinary or recombinant hCG to initiate the final stages of oocyte maturation during IVF.DesignProspective randomized study between 250 μg of recombinant hCG and 7,500 IU of urinary hCG as the final trigger of ovulation during IVF.SettingPrivate IVF center.Patient(s)Infertile women undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using the long protocol and recombinant FSH.Intervention(s)IVF treatment. Serum and FF hormone measurements on the day of oocyte collection.Main Outcome Measure(s)Serum and FF E2, P, hCG, and T levels.Result(s)Stimulation parameters, serum and follicular E2, P, T, and hCG levels were similar in the recombinant and urinary hCG groups. The number of oocytes retrieved from follicles >14 mm, the proportion of mature oocytes, fertilization rate, and pregnancy rate (PR) were also comparable.Conclusion(s)Recombinant and urinary hCG provided similar serum and follicular hormonal environments during the final stages of oocyte maturation. The IVF outcome parameters were also comparable. The two medications appear to be equally effective.