Effectiveness of HP-hMG vs r-FSH in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles with moderate male factor infertility

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this case-control study was to compare the efficacy of highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin (HPhMG) vs recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH) treatments following GnRH agonist suppression in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with moderate male factor infertility in terms of oocyte and embryo quality and clinical pregnancy outcomes. Materials and methods: A total of 240 infertile women were treated with HP-hMG group (n: 120 patients) or (r-FSH group, n: 120 patients) following GnRH agonist suppression (long regimen). Inclusion criteria for the study groups were infertility due to moderate oligoastheno-teratospermia with no associated female infertility factor, previous ART cycles <2, female patients aged 19 to 35 years with normal basal FSH, regular ovulatory cycles and BMI <30 kg/m2. Results: Treatment durations and gonadotropin doses were similar in both groups. Cycle cancellation rates, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates, total and metaphase II oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, number of embryos transferred were all similar in both groups. The clinical pregnancy rates were 45.9% (n: 50/109) in the r-FSH group and 40.4% (n: 44/109) in the HP-hMG group. Conclusion: HP-hMG is effective as r-FSH in terms of oocyte and embryo quality and clinical pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing ICSI with moderate male factor infertility.