Infertility in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Focus on Low-Dose Gonadotropin Treatment

The 2006 document discusses the effectiveness of low-dose gonadotropin treatment for infertility in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) at St. Mary's hospital in London, analyzing data from 199 patients treated from January 1990 to February 2002. The treatment involved human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) or FSH, with adjustments based on follicle development. Results showed that out of 916 treatment cycles, 657 (72%) were ovulatory, and 562 (61%) resulted in unifollicular ovulatory cycles. The cumulative conception rate after six cycles was 55%, and 59% for the first six ovulatory cycles. Higher BMI was linked to higher hMG doses and lower conception rates, while elevated testosterone and LH levels required higher gonadotropin doses but did not affect pregnancy rates. The study concluded that low-dose gonadotropin treatment led to high rates of unifollicular ovulation and low rates of multiple pregnancy and hyperstimulation syndrome, with an overall pregnancy rate comparable to conventional therapy. Low-dose regimens are preferred due to fewer complications, despite a slightly lower pregnancy rate per cycle, and factors like BMI and hormone levels were predictive of treatment outcomes.