Effectiveness of HP-hMG versus r-FSH in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles with moderate male-factor infertility

Authors: NİLGÜN TURHAN, ASLIHAN PEKEL, AYLİN AYRIM, BURCU KASAP, ÖMER BAYRAK

Abstract: The aim of this case-control study was to compare the efficacy of highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin (HP-hMG) versus recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH) treatments following gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist suppression in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with moderate male-factor infertility in terms of oocyte and embryo quality and clinical pregnancy outcomes. Materials and methods: A total of 240 infertile women were treated with HP-hMG (HP-hMG group, n = 120 patients) or r-FSH (r-FSH group, n = 120 patients) following GnRH agonist suppression (long regimen). Inclusion criteria for the study groups were infertility due to moderate oligoasthenoteratospermia with no associated female infertility factor, fewer than 2 previous assisted reproductive technology cycles, and female patients with ages between 19 and 35 years, normal basal FSH, regular ovulatory cycles, and body mass index below 30 kg/m^2. Results: Treatment durations and gonadotropin doses were similar in both groups. Cycle cancellation rates, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates, total and metaphase II oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, and number of embryos transferred were all similar in both groups. The clinical pregnancy rates were 45.9% (n = 50/109) in the r-FSH group and 40.4% (n = 44/109) in the HP-hMG group. Conclusion: HP-hMG is as effective as r-FSH in terms of oocyte and embryo quality and clinical pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing ICSI with moderate male-factor infertility.

Keywords: Male-factor infertility, ICSI, highly purified hMG, recombinant FSH, GnRH agonist

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