Human menopausal gonadotrophin is as good as recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone in terms of oocyte and embryo quality - A prospective randomized trial

Forty women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were randomised to receive either human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) or recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH) for ovarian stimulation in a long protocol of pituitary downregulation. Prior to ICSI, each denuded oocyte was videotaped for assessing nuclear maturity, morphology of zona pellucida, oocyte and polar body and the zona thickness, and diameters of oocyte and ooplasma. Fertilization and subsequent embryo development from each oocyte were followed. The biologists were blind to the type of gonadotrophin each patient had received for stimulation. The percentage of metaphase II oocytes between the HMG and rhFSH groups were similar (86.9% Vs 87.4% respectively). All other parameters assessing oocyte and embryo quality were comparable between two groups.