Intermittent vaginal injections of gonadotrophins for ovarian stimulation in IVF treatment

Abstract Intermittent vaginal administration of recombinant human FSH (rhFSH), for ovarian stimulation in IVF employing the concept of uterine first-pass effect and mesotherapy, was investigated. Injection of rhFSH (437 IU, counted as six ampoules) was carried out every 3 days into the vaginal mucosa of 66 participants receiving IVF treatment between November 2004 and August 2006. The primary outcomes were number of mature oocytes, number of good grade embryos, and term live birth rate (≥37 weeks gestation). On average, 2.94 days of injection and 16.35 ampoules of rhFSH were required to achieve proper follicular growth. Although fewer mature oocytes (5.27 ± 3.69) were retrieved, the number of good grade embryos (3.05 ± 1.95), number of embryos transferred (2.66 ± 1.70), pregnancy rate per cycle started [37.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 27.1–49.9], implantation rate (25.5%; 95% CI, 18.0–33.0), and term live birth rate (31.8%; 95% CI, 21.8–43.8) were comparable with conventional IVF treatments in this clinic.