Endocrine changes following pituitary desensitization with LHRH agonist and administration of purified FSH to induce follicular maturation

Abstract

Pituitary desensitization was induced in 13 normally menstruating women by administration of an LHRH agonist, Buserelin, intranasally, 100 μg at intervals of 4 h, for a period of 14 days starting on day 22 of the menstrual cycle. Whilst continuing with Buserelin, multiple follicular development was induced by administration of purified FSH (Metrodin) for between 8 and 15 days at a dose of 150 i.u. daily. In one patient no follicular growth was induced after 14 days treatment. In the remaining subjects between 3 and 11 follicles with mean diameter <16 mm were stimulated and between 2 and 10 mature oocytes were recovered laparoscopically for IVF, 34 h after hCG administration. Eight patients underwent embryo transfer and four conceived.