Microdose flare protocol with interrupted follicle stimulating hormone and added XXXX for  poor responders-an observational pilot study.

@entity1 @entity251 @entity342
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether temporarily withholding FSH and adding @entity342 could improve follicular response during a microdose  flare protocol in @entity1 with slow follicular growth or asynchronous follicular development. DESIGN: Observational pilot study. SETTING: University-affiliated private fertility center. @entity1 (S): Twenty-six @entity1 aged 34-47  years with poor response to stimulation or a previous cancelled IVF cycle and with slow or asynchronous follicular growth during a microdose flare cycle. INTERVENTION(S): For 13 @entity1 , after initiation of ovarian stimulation using the microdose flare protocol, gonadotropin administration was interrupted and transdermal @entity251 gel was added for several days (4.4    1.2  d) starting after cycle day 7 (mean cycle day 10    2.6). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): FSH, E2, follicular growth, and total number of mature oocytes retrieved were determined for all of the @entity1 . Cycle cancellation rate as well as pregnancy rate following embryo transfer were also documented when applicable. RESULT(S): FSH levels declined (25.2    6.5 to 6.8    3.2 IU/L), E2 levels increased (896    687 to 2,163    1,667 pmol/L), and follicular growth improved significantly during gonadotropin interruption and were tracked for 2  days during this time frame. The average number of oocytes retrieved was 5.3    2.6, and the ratio of mature to total oocytes was 4:5. Four of the 13 @entity1 in the interruption group conceived following frozen embryo transfer, whereas none in the control group did. CONCLUSION(S): The @entity342 -interrupted FSH protocol may improve follicular response to gonadotropins in cycles that might otherwise be cancelled.
