Clinical experience with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and urinary FSH: a retrospective case-controlled analysis

Objective: To compare the efficacy and efficiency of recombinant FSH (rFSH) and urinary FSH (uFSH). Design: Retrospective case controlled analysis. Setting: An assisted reproduction unit at a university center. Patient(s): 1388 patients undergoing long protocol in vitro fertilization/e mbryo transfer (IVF-ET) using buserelin acetate from day 2 of the cycle and either rFSH (follitropin beta) (n = 694) or uFSH (n = 694) with equal numb er of ampules started (rFSH: 50 IU, uFSH: 75 IU). Intervention(s): Patients were included in the two groups of treatment afte r matching for similarity in age and type of treatment (IVF or intracytopla smic sperm injection). Main Outcome Measure(s): Total dose of FSH. ovarian response, and IVF outco me. Result(s): Patients who received uFSH experienced a shorter period of stimu lation, and a higher number of oocytes were collected. The total FSH used w as lower in the rFSH group, and they required a lower FSH dose per oocyte r etrieved. The implantation and pregnancy rates were similar between the uFS H and rFSH groups. In both groups implantation and pregnancy rates were hig her when intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed as compared with IV F. Conclusion(s): The implantation and pregnancy rates are similar when either rFSH or uFSH is used (when compared on an ampule-to-ampule basis, rFSH: 50 IU, and uFSH: 75 IU). However, a significantly lower total FSH dose was us ed in the rFSH group with a lower FSH dose per oocyte collected. (Fertil St eril(R) 2001;75: 920-5. (C)2001 by American Society for Reproductive Medici ne.).