PURPOSE: To prevent multiple pregnancies the goal of ovulation induction by gonadotropins is to achieve only mono-follicular development. The most important issue is therefore to determine the starting dose. The aim of this study is to compare three different starting doses of follitropin beta to assess the lowest effective dose. METHODS: We evaluated 92 cycles with ovarian stimulation for patients with unexplained infertility, anovulatory disorder or mild male factor. We prospectively divided patients into 50, 75 and 100 IU groups based on patients' response to clomiphene citrate treatment. RESULTS: We performed 87 intrauterine inseminations (95 % of cycles with ovulation induction). Five cycles were cancelled. We achieved 15 pregnancies; total pregnancy rate was 18 %. Pregnancy rate was 22, 10 and 28 % in 50, 75 and 100 IU follitropin beta groups. The average number of follicles was 2.0 ± 0.8, 2.2 ± 1.1 and 2.5 ± 1.8 (ns), total dose of gonadotropins (IU) 483 ± 192, 600 ± 151 and 830 ± 268 (p < 0.001), respectively. We observed one case of twins in 75 and 100 IU treatment group, as well (25 % risk). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that based on the dose which was chosen according to clomiphene citrate response, all treatment regimes were effective for ovulation induction. 50 IU of follitropin beta daily is the appropriate starting dose to support ovulation for clomiphene citrate-sensitive women. The disadvantage may be an increased risk of cycle cancellation due to low ovarian response. Daily doses 75 or 100 IU of rFSH increase total consumption of gonadotropins.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Endometrium drug effects   MeSH
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human administration & dosage   MeSH
• Ovulation Induction methods   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Ovarian Follicle drug effects   MeSH
• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome epidemiology   MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Recombinant Proteins administration & dosage   MeSH
• Pregnancy, Multiple statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Pregnancy Rate * MeSH
• Insemination, Artificial MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Clinical Trial MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human MeSH
• follitropin beta MeSH Browser
• Recombinant Proteins MeSH