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Luteinizing Hormone Activity Supplementation Enhances Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Efficacy and Improves Ovulation Induction Outcome¹

Reproductive Endocrinology Center, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Marco Filicori, M.D., Reproductive Endocrinology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Via Massarenti 13, 40138 Bologna, Italy. E-mail: filicori{at}med.unibo.it

Although FSH is essential to stimulate ovarian folliculogenesis, increasing physiological and clinical evidence suggests that moderate LH stimulation may also be critical for optimal follicle and oocyte development. Conversely, a clinical trend exists toward conducting controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) in a LH-depleted environment, as recently developed gonadotropin preparations are devoid of LH activity, and endogenous LH is suppressed with GnRH analogs in most COH cycles.

To investigate the role of LH activity during COH we supplemented highly purified (HP) FSH with low dose hCG in GnRH agonist-suppressed women. Twenty normoovulatory women were pretreated with a GnRH agonist and after 2 weeks were randomly assigned to receive HP FSH (150 IU/day) alone (group A; 10 patients) or combined with hCG (50 IU/day; group B; 10 patients). The HP FSH dose was increased after 14 days only in cases of inadequate response. Treatment was monitored with pelvic ultrasound and daily hormone determinations. None of the patients of group B and 8 of group A required more than 14 days of treatment and increments of the FSH dose. Folliculogenesis and 17ß-estradiol (E₂) secretion progressed more rapidly and evenly in group B. Although preovulatory follicle number and E₂ concentrations were comparable, patients in group B required a shorter stimulation time (12.5 ± 0.6 vs. 17.3 ± 0.7 days in group A; P < 0.0001) and a lower HP FSH dose (1725 ± 84 vs. 2670 ± 164 IU in group A; P < 0.0001). Serum levels of LH, E₂, progesterone, and testosterone did not differ between the 2 groups; serum FSH was higher in group A.

We conclude that LH activity promotes folliculogenesis in synergy with FSH in the mid- to late follicular phase and that low dose hCG coadministration optimizes COH by 1) enhancing FSH action, 2) accelerating ovarian follicle development, 3) shortening COH duration, 4) lowering HP FSH requirements, and 5) reducing COH cost. Thus, moderate LH activity in the follicular phase plays a positive physiological and clinical role in folliculogenesis and ovulation induction.

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