Table 2 Overall outcome of stimulation using a "low dose step-up" protocol and comparison between HP-uFSH and r-FSH (* values are expressed as mean ± SD; ns = not significant)
| Â | overall | HP-uFSH | rFSH | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
N. of patients | 260 | 130 | 130 | Â |
N. of stimulation cycles | 260 | 130 | 130 | Â |
Total FSH dose (IU) * | 733 ± 387 | 844 ± 305 | 668 ± 276 | .0003 |
Duration of follicular phase (days) * | 12.3 ± 2.5 | 12.7 ± 2.6 | 11.7 ± 2.5 | ns |
No. of preovulatory follicles ≥ 18 mm at hCG * | 1.8 ± 1.2 | 1.9 ± 1.1 | 1.8 ± 1.2 | ns |
No. of follicles 12–17 mm at hCG * | 3.8 ± 1.6 | 3.7 ± 1.9 | 3.8 ± 1.6 | ns |
Size of the dominant follicle at hCG (mm) * | 20.2 ± 1.1 | 20.1 ± 1.0 | 20.3 ± 0.9 | ns |
Endometrial thickness at hCG (mm) * | 10.4 ± 1.5 | 10.8 ± 1.1 | 9.9 ± 1.8 | ns |
Monofollicular cycles (%) | 178 (68.5) | 87 (66.9) | 91 (70.0) | ns |
Bi-/trifollicular cycles (%) | 32 (12.3) | 16 (12.3) | 16 (12.3) | ns |
Cancelled cycles (%) | 50 (19.2) | 27 (20.8) | 23 (17.7) | ns |
Deliveries | 30 | 13 | 17 | Â |
Delivery rate/started cycle (%) | 11.5 | 10.0 (95%CI: 4.5–15.2) | 13.1 (95%CI: 7.3–18.9) | ns |
Delivery rate/ovulatory cycle (%) | 13.6 | 12.0 | 15.2 | ns |