Luteal blood flow in patients undergoing GnRH agonist long protocol

Table 1 Profiles of the treatment groups

	n	age	No. of preovulatory follicles (18 mm or greater)	No. of ovulation	serum concentrations
					LH (mIU/ml)	FSH (mIU/ml)	P4 (ng/ml)
Control	9	36.4 ± 1.7	2.1 ± 0.4	1.9 ± 0.4	0.10 ± 0.03	1.20 ± 0.4	38.9 ± 7.8
HCG	8	37.8 ± 1.7	2.8 ± 0.7	2.6 ± 0.5	0.12 ± 0.01	0.94 ± 0.2	56.2 ± 22.9
Vitamin E	7	35.7 ± 1.4	2.3 ± 0.5	2.6 ± 0.8	0.22 ± 0.04	0.85 ± 0.1	32.3 ± 10.9

Twenty-four patients who underwent AIH under the standardized ovarian-stimulation protocol with GnRHa were recruited in this study. The numbers of follicles (18 mm or greater) were measured at the day of HCG injection for ovulation induction. The numbers of ovulated follicles were estimated 2 days after HCG injection. Dependent on luteal supports, the patients were divided into 3 groups; 9 women were given ethinylestradiol (0.05 mg) plus norgestrel (0.5 mg) (Planovar) orally throughout the luteal phase; 8 women were given hCG 2,000 IU on days 2 and 4 after ovulation induction in addition to Planovar (HCG group); 7 women were given vitamin E (600 mg/day, 3 times per day) orally throughout the luteal phase in addition to Planovar (vitamin E group). Planovar was used as a control in this study because it does not affect luteal blood flow. Vitamin E was used to increase luteal blood flow. Serum concentrations of LH, FSH, and progesterone were examined during the mid-luteal phase (6-8 days after ovulation). Values are mean ± SEM. There were no significant differences in any parameters between the three treatment groups.

ISSN: 1757-2215