A COMPARISON OF HORMONAL AND ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT OF PITUITARY SUPPRESSION AFTER PRETREATMENT WITH A GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE AGONIST

Objective-The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency with which pituitary suppression by gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) for IVF is achieved according to hormonal vs. ultrasound crit eria. Methods-The criteria selected for comparison were a luteinizing hormone (LH) level of <5 mIU/mL, an estradiol of <100 pmol/L and the a bsence of follicular development >10 mm on ultrasound. Results-Pituita ry suppression was achieved in 184/215 cases (85.6%) according to the LH level, in 103/215 cases (47.9%) according to the estradiol level, a nd in 95/117 cases (81.2%) when ultrasound criteria were satisfied. Al l three criteria were met in only 16/139 (11.5%) of cases after 3 week s' pretreatment with the GnRHa. Conclusion-Neither estradiol nor LH le vels were predictive of the sonographic evidence of pituitary suppress ion, nor did they correlate with IVF outcome.