Comparison of plasma and follicular fluid hormone profiles following stimulation with HMG, with or without LHRH agonists, for in-vitro fertilization.

Plasma and follicular fluid (FF) hormone assays for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), oestradiol (E2), progesterone (P), delta-4-androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T) were performed on the day of oocyte retrieval in two groups of normo-ovulatory women enrolled in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme: 24 were treated using the decapeptyl agonists DTRP6, of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in the long protocol associated with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) (49 FF) and 14 were stimulated with HMG alone (33 FF). In both FF and plasma the mean concentration of P was greater, and the E2/P ratios as well as the LH levels were lower in the agonist-treated group. In this group the follicular concentration of P was greater and the E2/P ratio lower when pregnancy occurred following IVF. The hormonal modifications may be due to greater functional maturity of the granulosa cells.