Objective: To study the effect of growth hormone (GH) on the outcome of ovulation induction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Methods: We examined serum sex hormone, GH and insulin like growth factor-II (IGF-II) basal levels by radioimmunoassay in 130 PCOS patients and 107 normal women. In addition, we observed the effect of GH on the outcome of ovulation induction in 7 poor responders to human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) treatment.
Results: The mean serum GH level is (2.50 +/- 1.33) micrograms/L and (1.04 +/- 0.47) micrograms/L respectively in nonobese and obese PCOS patients which were significantly lower than those in controls [(5.30 +/- 2.26) micrograms/L, (2.95 +/- 1.49) micrograms/L respectively, P < 0.05]. The mean serum IGF-II level is (136 +/- 27) nmol/L in the obese PCOS patients, significantly greater than those in nonobese PCOS and controls (P < 0.05). When we used GH with hMG in 7 poor responders, the total amount of hMG required decreased from 1 to 12 amples and the duration of treatment shortened as compared with hMG alone.
Conclusion: There is abnormal GH secretion in patients with PCOS, GH may improve the outcome of ovulation induction by gonadotropin.