FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PREGNANCY AND COMPLICATION RATES WITH HUMAN MENOPAUSAL GONADOTROPHIN THERAPY

Summary

We report the results obtained with a standard system of gonadotrophin therapy. Seventy-seven consecutive patients were given 322 treatment cycles. Thirty-seven patients (48 per cent) conceived, six of them on two occasions, making 43 preg-nancies of which 31.6 per cent were multiple. Five per cent of all treatment cycles were complicated by mild, and 0.62 per cent by severe hyperstimulation. The factors involved in achieving a satisfactory pregnancy rate whilst avoiding complications are discussed. Most complications occurred during the first cycle in which the rise in oestrogen excretion suggested follicular development and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was given (the “first effective” treatment cycle). In such cycles the risk of hyperstimulation rose sharply when the day 6 urinary total oestrogen level was above 150 μg. per 24 hours and the multiple pregnancy rate was increased by a large dose of HCG.