Recombinant versus urinary follicle-stimulating hormone in the low-dose regimen in anovulatory patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a safer and more effective treatment.

Background. We studied polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in fifty 25- to 37-year-old women who failed to conceive with clomiphene citrate treatment. Methods: Twenty patients were submitted to treatment with low-dose (75 IU) urinary FSH (uFSH) in order to achieve ovulation and 30 patients were treated with recombinant FSH (rFSH) according to the same protocol. Results: Ovulation was achieved in 75 and 97% of the cycles after uFSH and rFSH, respectively (p < 0.02). The length of treatment needed to achieve ovulation, the number of ampules given and dose per kilogram were significantly lower in the rFSH group. Mild ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was observed in 9 uFSH cycles, whereas only 1 of the women treated with rFSH developed an OHSS (1/38 vs. 9/36; p < 0.01). Conclusion: rFSH is more efficient than uFSH in inducing ovulation in PCOS patients. The high prevalence of ovulatory cycles using a lower dose guaranteed greater safety of treatment and significantly reduced the incidence of OHSS. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.