Role of LH in controlled ovarian stim u la tion

Controlled ovarian stimulation has become an integral part of infertility treatment. Specifi c gonadotropin based protocols become the main strat-e gies for controlled stimulation. To avoid the potentially detrimental effect of premature LH surge on oocytes and/or endometrium development, the GnRH analogs have been incorporated into controlled ovarian stimulation strategies. With the availability of recombinant gonadotropins (i.e. recom-binant FSH devoided of LH activity) it is necessary to establish pre cise role of LH in the folliculogenesis and endometrium development. The benefi t of exogenous LH may vary with the GnRH-agonists and an tag o-nists regiment used. The optimal amount of LH or ratio FSH to LH used during therapeutically stimulated growth of follicles is still a problem that needs to be solved in the near future. Reproductive Biology 2002 2 (3): 215-227