A prospective, randomized and blinded comparison between 10,000 IU urinary and 250 microg recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin for oocyte maturation in in vitro fertilization cycles.

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy and safety of u-hCG with r-hCG in IVF cycles.

METHODS

A prospective, investigator-blind, randomized, comparative study. Patients (n = 100) < or =35 years with IVF indication were randomly assigned on the day of hCG administration for oocyte maturation to receive either u-hCG (10,000 IU) or r-hCG (250 microg).

RESULTS

No statistical differences were found between groups in relation to total number of oocytes retrieved, percentage of mature oocytes, number of injected oocytes, fertilization rates and number of embryos transferred. The data indicate a possible trend toward a higher incidence of pregnancy in the r-hCG group. Adverse events, predominantly injection-site reactions, were significantly more common in the u-hCG group.

CONCLUSIONS

r-hCG is at least as effective for inducing final stages of oocyte maturation as 10,000 IU u-hCG and is also associated with significantly better patient tolerance and thus higher patient acceptability.