FSH/LH Ratio as a Predictor of the IVF Outcome in Young Women

Abstract

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the treatment for many causes of infertility. Many studies were done to investigate different factors that can affect the success rate. This study was conducted to evaluate if cycle day 3 (CD3) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) ratio can be a predictor for the IVF outcome in young sub-fertile females ≤ 35 years with normal baseline FSH. This is a retrospective case control study conducted at the Centre of Fertility and Andrology Care (CFAC) in Egypt where 235 sub-fertile women underwent IVF. Patients were grouped based on CD3 FSH/LH ratio. Group A consisted of ≤35-year-old women with FSH/LH ratio < 2 and group B included ≤35-year-old women with FSH/LH ratio ≥ 2. The primary outcomes include the fertilization rate, implantation rate and the clinical pregnancy rate. The secondary outcomes include duration and the total dose of gonadotrophin used. We found that, there was no significant difference in the total dose of gonadotropin used during the IVF cycle. Also, there was no significant difference in the number of retrieved and fertilized oocytes and the number of good embryos. Clinical pregnancy rate was the same in both groups. In conclusion, in patients younger than 35 years, CD3 FSH/LH ratio is not a predictor for IVF outcome.