A preliminary observation on efficacy of growth hormone on poor ovarian responders in IVF/ICSI cycles

Objective To determine efficacy of gonadotropin (Gn) co-treated with growth hormone (GH) on poor ovarian response (POR) patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). Methods A total of 58 IVF/ICSI-embryo transfer (ET) cycles in POR patients were retrospectively identified. The POR criteria were defined by Bologna consensus. The cycles were divided into two groups: Gn co-treated with GH group (GH + group, 25 cycles) and Gn only group (GH - group, 33 cycles). Results of IVF/ICSI for these two groups were compared. Results The number of oocyte retrieved and the normalfertilization rate in the two groups were no difference (P>0.05). High-quality embryo rate and implantation rate in the GH + group were 39.6% and 38.5%, respectively, which were slightly higher than those in the GH - group (35.9% and 25.0%), but no difference was found on these two parameters (P>0.05). Conclusion GH, to some extent, can improve the quality of embryo and the implantation rate. Whether GH co-therapy has a definite role in improving the outcome of POR patients still needs further evaluation.