Ovulation induction with subcutaneous pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone: the role of supplemental human chorionic gonadotropin in the luteal phase.

Four subjects with hypothalamic amenorrhea were administered subcutaneous pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for ovulation induction. GnRH was discontinued at the time of presumed ovulation in all cases. In the first two patients the luteal phase was supported with human chorionic gonadotropin in the initial cycle but not in the second cycle. In patient 3, the reverse was true. Patient 4 had only one cycle on GnRH, and it was unsupported. Daily blood samples were obtained for luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, and progesterone (P); and frequent pelvic ultrasound examinations were performed. Presumed ovulation as determined by ultrasound occurred in all seven cycles. The first three patients had short luteal phases with poor P production in the unsupported cycles. However, the fourth patient, who had shown pituitary response in GnRH testing, had a normal luteal phase with good P production without human chorionic gonadotropin support. These data support the notion that subcutaneous pulsatile GnRH can be used for the induction of ovulation. However, if the luteal phase is not supported, an inadequate corpus luteum may result.