Comparison of two doses of recombinant hcg for oocyte maturation in obese women (BMI > or = 30) undergoing assisted reproductive techniques.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of two doses (250 microg vs. 500 microg) of r-hCG for oocyte maturation in obese women with a body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 and undergoing assisted reproduction techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A Prospective, randomized, clinical study of seventy two patients undergoing IVF/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with BMI > or = 30 kg/m2. Patients with high BMI were randomized to receive either 250 microg or 500 microg rhCG. Blood and follicular fluid (FF) samples were collected on the day of oocyte pick-up (OPU). The outcome measures were serum and FF hCG levels on the day of OPU, number of oocytes retrieved per patient, number of mature oocytes retrieved, clinical pregnancy rates (PR).

RESULTS

Serum hCG levels were significantly lower in patients receiving 250 microg of r-hCG than in patients receiving 500 microg of r-hCG. However FF hCG levels, implantation rates, abortion rates, clinical PRs were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

250 microg of r-hCG is sufficient and safe to trigger ovulation in women with BMI > or = 30.