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 normal fertilization 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.