ENDOGENOUS PLASMA GROWTH-HORMONE AND THE OCCURRENCE OF PREGNANCIES INPATIENTS UNDERGOING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION AND EMBRYO-TRANSFER WITH OVARIAN STIMULATION

This study was undertaken to investigate a possible relationship betwe en endogenous secretion of growth hormone (GH) during ovarian stimulat ion and treatment outcome in patients undergoing in-vitro fertilizatio n (IVF) and embryo transfer, Plasma samples obtained from 19 women who had successfully completed all stages of IVF/embryo transfer were ana lysed retrospectively. Based on the increase in GH during treatment, 1 1 GH responders and eight GH non-responders were identified, Mean dail y GH concentrations for the GH responders and GH nonresponders were 3. 5 +/- 1.8 and 1.8 +/- 0.8, 5.4 +/- 2.3 and 0.5 +/- 0.2, and 9.0 +/- 1. 9 and 0.7 +/- 0.1 ng/ml (P < 0.05) for days 10, 11 and 12 respectively , Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I slightly increased with treatmen t in both groups. No significant difference between these groups was f ound in relation to treatment duration, number of human menopausal gon adotrophin ampoules used, oestradiol peak values, and number of oocyte s retrieved or fertilization rate, Seven of the 11 GH responder women conceived in comparison with one pregnancy among eight GH nonresponder patients (P < 0.05), In view of the absence of differences in the cli nical and laboratory parameters, we suggest that the occurrence of pre gnancies among GH responder patients might be related to a positive lo cal effect of GH or its mediators on uterine receptivity at the time o f nidation.