Does Double Dose of Recombinant Human Chorionic Gonadotropin for Final Follicular Maturation in In vitro Fertilization Cycles Improve Oocyte Quality: A Prospective Randomized Study

CONTEXT: In in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, the recommended dose of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (r-hCG), for triggering final follicular maturation is 250 μg, although there is some disagreement. AIMS: The aim of our study was to assess the effect on the number of mature oocytes retrieved after triggering ovulation in IVF cycles using 250 μg or 500 μg of r-hCG. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective, single-center, randomized study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 100 women undergoing IVF with embryo transfer. The primary outcome measure was the total number of oocytes retrieved per follicle, number of mature oocytes, and number of embryos generated. The secondary outcomes included clinical and biochemical pregnancy rates and incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. RESULTS: Mean number of oocytes retrieved (6.5 ± 4.0 vs. 6.4 ± 3.9, P = 0.3) and mean number of mature oocytes (4.0 ± 2.3 vs. 3.2 ± 2.3, P = 0.09) were similar in the two groups; however, mean number of oocytes retrieved per follicle was found to be higher with 500 μg r-hCG (67.4 ± 23.9 vs. 77.5 ± 23.3, P = 0.04). In the subgroup of poor responder women, there was a significant increase in the number of mature oocytes retrieved with double dose of r-hCG (2.2 ± 1.8 vs. 3.7 ± 1.9, P = 0.06), leading to improvement in fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates. CONCLUSIONS: Double dose of r-hCG for final follicular maturation in IVF cycles resulted in improvement in mean number of oocytes per follicle but did not result in improved pregnancy rates in the women. In the subset of poor responders, 500 μg r-hCG seems to be more advantageous than the lower dose, although larger randomized trials are needed to generalize this strategy.