THE EFFECTS OF SPONTANEOUS LUTEINIZING-HORMONE SURGES ON SUPEROVULATORY CYCLES

Objective: To determine the effect of a spontaneous luteinizing hormone (LH) surge on the cycle fecundity during superovulation induction. Design: Superovulatory cycles of patients with various diagnoses are retrospectively compared. Setting: Reproductive Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic. Patients: A total of 1,185 superovulatory cycles from July 1, 1982 until November 1, 1991 are compared. Main Outcome Measure: The probability of achieving a pregnancy per treatment cycle. Results: Patients with unexplained infertility and hyperprolactinemia were more likely to have a spontaneous LH surge during superovulation than patients with either endometriosis or polycystic ovarian disease. However, the cycle fecundity rate did not differ whether or not an LH surge occurred, regardless of the diagnosis. Conclusions: Spontaneous onset of an LH surge during superovulation induction does not influence the chances for pregnancy.