Impact of Serum Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Expression to Oocyte Maturation Rate: A Study of Controlled Ovarian Stimulation

BACKGROUND: Few studies have assessed the impact of serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels before oocyte retrieval and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) mRNA expression. AIMS: The objective was to assess the correlations between serum hCG levels at 12-h posttrigger granulosa cell LHR mRNA expression during the in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle with oocyte maturation rate and to determine the cutoff level of serum hCG at 12-h posttrigger. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional was conducted for this study at the IVF center of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone was used on day 2 of the menstrual cycle with multiple doses of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist. Recombinant hCG was used to trigger ovulation. At 12-h posttrigger, hCG serum levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between oocyte maturation rates, serum hCG levels, and LHR mRNA levels. Cutoff values were determined using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Serum hCG levels were positively correlated (r = 0.467;P < 0.01), and LHR mRNA expression was weakly correlated (r = 0.073; P = 0.701) with oocyte maturation. The cutoff of serum hCG for a high maturation rate was 77 mIU/mL, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.765 (95% confidence interval: 0.598–0.939) andP < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Oocyte maturation is correlated with serum hCG levels with 77 mIU/mL as the cutoff point for oocyte retrieval.