Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of using both urinary and recombinant FSH in a combined protocol for ovarian stimulation in an IVF treatment program.
Method: A total of 119 infertile couples undergoing ICSI treatment were randomized prospectively in this study. After a standard down-regulation with GnRH analogue, the patients were randomized in 2 groups 58 received combined urinary and recombinant FSH, starting with uFSH and then rFSH, and 61 controls received only recombinant FSH.
Result(s): Pregnancy and implantation rates were significantly higher in the combined uFSH/rFSH group than the control (rFSH) group (43.9% vs 22.1% and 27.5% vs 13.2% respectively). Metaphase II oocyte and grade 1 embryos were significantly higher in favour of combined uFSH/rFSH group than the recombinant FSH group.
Conclusion(s): This study shows that using a combination of both urinary and recombinant FSH for ovarian stimulation improves oocyte maturity and embryo cleavage, and increases pregnancy and implantation rates.