Sequential protocol with urinary-FSH/recombinant-FSH versus standard protocol with recombinant-FSH in women of advanced age undergoing IVF

A stimulation protocol mimicking the physiological pattern of FSH release may improve IVF outcome in women of advanced age. Urinary-FSH delivers a wider range of isoforms including the most acidic produced during the early follicular phase when oestradiol level is low, a common condition in women of advanced reproductive age. We hypothesized that a stimulation protocol using urinary-FSH during the early follicular phase and then shifting toward recombinant-FSH may improve oocyte quality and pregnancy rate in 35-40 years old patients in IVF program. A retrospective study was performed: after a standard down-regulation with GnRH-analogue, 115 women underwent stimulation with urinary-FSH for 6 days according to a step-down approach and then shifting to recombinant-FSH (group A), 115 women underwent a stimulation protocol with only recombinant-FSH (group B). Days of stimulation were lower in group A than in group B, a higher proportion of MII oocytes and of grade 1 embryos, higher implantation rate and pregnancy rate were observed in group A versus group B. We conclude that a sequential protocol using urinary-FSH in the early days of stimulation and subsequently recombinant-FSH may improve the IVF outcome in patients of advanced reproductive age.