Adjuvant L-arginine treatment for in-vitro fertilization in poor responder patients.

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Arginine and Follicle Stimulating Hormone, published as a randomized controlled trial.

A total of 34 patients undergoing assisted reproduction was divided in two groups according to different ovarian stimulation protocols: (i) flare-up gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) plus elevated pure follicle stimulating hormone (pFSH) (n = 17); and (ii) flare-up GnRHa plus elevated pFSH plus oral L-arginine (n = 17).

During the ovarian stimulation regimen, the patients were submitted to hormonal (oestradiol and growth hormone), ultrasonographic (follicular number and diameter, endometrial thickness) and Doppler (uterine and perifollicular arteries) evaluations.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 34 patients taking part.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, women only.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized.

The patients were allocated by chance, so the Arginine group and the comparison group should start out alike.

What Was Measured

During the ovarian stimulation regimen, the patients were submitted to hormonal (oestradiol and growth hormone), ultrasonographic (follicular number and diameter, endometrial thickness) and Doppler (uterine and perifollicular arteries) evaluations.

The subject headings attached to it are Arginine, Blood Flow Velocity, Chorionic Gonadotropin, Estradiol, Fertility Agents, Female, Fertilization in Vitro and Follicle Stimulating Hormone.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized study of Arginine and Follicle Stimulating Hormone in 34 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1999 (Human reproduction (Oxford, England)), a journal based in England.

More context: all human trials.