Efficacy of growth hormone in improving the pregnancy rate in poor responders in ART

Abstract

Background: Poor responders impose a great challenge to ART clinicians. Research to improve their pregnancy rate is going on. This study was conducted to analyze the effect of growth hormone in poor responders in ART.Methods: This study was done from January 2015 to December 2015. It was a retrospective, single centre, cohort study in which 36 poor responders were selected and allotted into group A (18) with growth hormone and group B (18) without growth hormone. High dose of gonadotrophins was used for ovarian stimulation and antagonist protocol was followed in all patients. Group A received 4 IU of growth hormone along with usual treatment from day 2 till ovulation trigger with HCG injection, group B usual protocol.Results: Statistical analysis was done with independent T test, and p value <0.05 was considered significant. Higher number of mature oocytes and pregnancy rates were observed in growth hormone group. Number of MII oocytes was 5.8, on an average in group A and 3.7 in group B, the difference was statistically significant (p 0.0000001). Clinical pregnancy rates were 27.7% in group A and 16.6% in group B, statistical significance (p 0.02).Conclusions: Addition of growth hormone shows increase in number of oocytes retrieved and pregnancy rates in poor responders in ART patients.