A Therapeutic Role of Prolactin Supplementation in Ovarian Stimulation for in Vitro Fertilization: The Bromocriptine-Rebound Method

In a prospective randomized study, we examined whether a novel method of ovarian stimulation, the bromocriptine-rebound method, improves in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes compared with the conventional long protocol using GnRH agonist and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG). Ovulatory women with previous failed IVF-embryo transfer using the long protocol were prospectively assigned to either the bromocriptine-rebound method (group 1, 82 cycles) or the long protocol (group 2, 80 cycles). The bromocriptine-rebound method was the same as the long protocol, except that bromocriptine was administered daily from day 4 of the preceding cycle until 7 days before hMG stimulation. The numbers of follicles, fertilized oocytes, and embryos with superior morphology were higher in group 1 than in group 2. The rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth delivery per cycle were significantly higher in group 1 (38% and 33%, respectively) than in group 2 (21% and 19%, respectively). The mean concentration of serum PRL d...