Optimising FSH Dosage During in Vitro Fertilization Fertilization (IVF)

Method for Determining Optimal FSH Dosage During in Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

During in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, women receive hormone stimulation with gonadotropins to induce growth of several ovarian follicles. Selecting the optimal dosage of gonadotropin is important to avoid maturation of too few or too many follicles, which may impair the chances of treatment success, lead to treatment cancellation, or serious side effects.

Motivated by the lack of standardised procedures to estimate the optimal dosage of gonadotropins, a patient-specific test has been developed to predict the optimal hormone dosage. By measuring internalisation of gonadotropin by the patient's monocytes isolated form the peripheral blood ex vivo, the Gonadotropin Removal Test determines whether a patient needs increased or reduced hormon doses.

In this clinical study the investigators compare deviation from optimal outcome at oocyte pick-up day in two patient groups. Optimal outcome of stimulation is defined as 10 oocytes collected in the group of patients matching the inclusion criteria of the study.

The control group receives starting hormone dosage assigned by the clinician according to standard clinical procedures. The intervention group receives starting hormone dosage adjusted according to the results of the Gonadotropin Removal Test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stimulation according to the mid-luteal phase gonadotropin-releasing hormone-agonist protocol
• Pre-selected starting dose <110 IU or >270 IU FSH

Exclusion Criteria:

• Risk for hyperstimulation
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Endometriosis stage >III
• BMI>33
• Anti-mullerian hormone value missing