Follicular Fluid Hormone Concentrations During Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation using Gonadotropin Preparations with Different FSH/LH Ratios. . Comparison of an FSH-Dominant and a Purified FSH preparation

Objective—The aim of the present randomized study was to investigate w hether ovarian s tim u­ lation treatm ent with gonadotropin preparations containing different am ounts of LH activity resulted in variations of steroidal composition of follicular fluid. A different endocrine m ilieu w ith in the follicle m ight influence oocyte quality. Methods—Antral fluid from m ature follicles was collected in in vitro fertilization cycles and concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione, estrone, estradiol, progesterone, FSH, and LH were determ ined. A com parison was m ade betw een trea tm en t w ith a purified FSH prepara tion (nine patients, 35 follicular fluid samples) and a FSH-dominant hum an menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) prepara­ tion (nine patients, 34 samples). Results—No differences in any of the horm one levels could be detected between the two groups. Conclusion—Treatm ent w ith gonadotropin preparations contain ing different FSH/LH ratios did not result in different androgen, estrogen and progesterone levels in follicular fluid. I n t J Fertil 42(6):426-430, 1997