A comparison of treatments with exogenous FSH to promote folliculogenesis in patients with quiescent ovaries due to the continued administration of an LHRH agonist
The circulating levels of plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and oestradlol (E2) have been determined in three groups of three subjects during the continuous, subcutaneous administration of an LH-RH agonist (250 μg/day) and after the intramuscular injection of urinary FSH (group I, 150 IU daily for 8 days, total 1200 IU; group II, 300 IU on alternate days for four injections, total 1200 IU; and group III, 150 IU on alternate days for four injections, total 600 IU). The level of circulating FSH in group I rose steadily from a geometric mean of 1.11 (preinjection) to 8.76 U/I (at day 8), while the corresponding levels in groups II and III fluctuated according to the time and dose of the injected material. Twenty-four hours after the injection the mean level of FSH in group II was significantly higher (7.31 U/I) than the corresponding value for group I (2.79 U/I) or group III (3.48 U/I). Only those subjects in group II showed a resumption of folliculogenesis (leading, mean maximum follicular diameters of 16, 13 and 14 mm, respectively) and a corresponding Increase in the concentration of plasma E2 (from 22, 43 and 103 to 906, 1477 and 2362 pmol/l, respectively).