Luteinizing Hormone and Ovarian Stimulation for In-Vitro Fertilization: Do Science and Business Always Agree?

Abstract

The current commentary paper follows the historical introduction of gonadotropins and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues to the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) market. We maintain that business decisions significantly influenced research and development; however, pharma decisions did not always align with physiology and clinical interests. Specifically, the never-ending debate on the issue of luteinizing hormone (LH) supplementation during ovarian stimulation was repeatedly studied using population-based randomized controlled trials. However, LH activity supplementation is an endocrine issue and therefore, specific endocrine inclusion/exclusion criteria should be used when assessing the needs or not for LH in our “every-day” patients. We propose that the approach until now has defocused the research question and thus, also the debate and that there is a need to revisit physiology and clinical thinking if the LH supplementation issue is to be unravelled.