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Human Reproduction Update Advance Access originally published online on June 26, 2009
Human Reproduction Update 2009 15(6):613-622; doi:10.1093/humupd/dmp026
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Addition of growth hormone to gonadotrophins in ovarian stimulation of poor responders treated by in-vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis

E.M. Kolibianakis1,3, C.A. Venetis1, K. Diedrich2, B.C. Tarlatzis1 and G. Griesinger2

1 Unit for Human Reproduction, 1st Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Nea Efkarpia Peripheral Road, Thessaloniki 54603, Greece 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Clinic of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany

3 Correspondence address. E-mail: Stratis.Kolibianakis{at}gmail.com

BACKGROUND: Whether the addition of growth hormone (GH) can improve the probability of pregnancy in poor responders undergoing ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has been examined to date by several underpowered studies, which have not provided solid conclusions.

METHODS: A computerized literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and randomized controlled trial (RCT) registries was performed independently by two reviewers, aiming to identify RCTs that evaluated the following research question: does GH addition increase the probability of pregnancy in poor responders undergoing ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues and gonadotrophins for IVF?

RESULTS: Six relevant RCTs were identified, including a total of 169 patients. GH addition significantly increased clinical pregnancy (rate difference: +16%, 95% CI: +4 to +28; fixed effects model) (number-needed-to-treat (NNT) = 6, 95% CI: 4–25) and live birth rates (rate difference: +17%, 95% CI: +5 to +30; fixed effects model) (NNT = 6; 95% CI: 3–20). Furthermore, GH addition was associated with a significantly higher proportion of patients reaching embryo transfer (rate difference: +22%, 95% CI: +7 to +36; fixed effects model).

CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis provides evidence that GH addition increases the probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth in poor responders undergoing ovarian stimulation with GnRH analogues and gonadotrophins for IVF. However, the total number of patients analyzed is small and thus further RCTs are warranted to prove or disprove this finding.

Key words: growth hormone / in-vitro fertilization / live birth / poor ovarian response

Received on October 21, 2008; revised May 22, 2009; accepted on June 2, 2009


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