Empty follicle syndrome—does repeat administration of hCG really work?
Received 22 July 2009; received in revised form 17 September 2009; accepted 22 September 2009. published online 13 November 2009.
In this retrospective case series with historic control subjects, repeat administration of hCG after failure to retrieve oocytes from the first ovary in the setting of unexpectedly low serum hCG levels resulted in unsuccessful IVF outcomes. This represents the largest case series to date regarding repeat administration of hCG in so-called “false” empty follicle syndrome cycles and indicates that patients should be counseled regarding the low likelihood of cycle success after repeat administration of hCG in this setting.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Reprint requests: Catherine Racowsky, Ph.D., Brigham & Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, ASB 1 + 3, Rm 08, Boston MA 02115 (FAX: 617-975-0825).
D.R. has nothing to disclose. M.H. has nothing to disclose. K.J. has nothing to disclose. C.R. has nothing to disclose.
ABSTRACT