Growth Hormone Supplementation May Improve IVF Embryo Quality in Women Over 38, Study Finds

Co-treatment with recombinant human growth hormone during ovulation induction may improve key embryo outcomes for women aged 38 and older undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to research published in Nature Health Sciences. Investigators evaluated 148 infertile female patients aged 35 and older to assess how adding growth hormone to a standard GnRH agonist protocol influences egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo quality across different age groups and levels of ovarian response.

Patients in the intervention cohort received daily injections of 4.5 IU of recombinant human growth hormone alongside controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for five days, while a control group received standard stimulation without growth hormone. While participants aged 35 to 37 demonstrated no statistically significant differences in IVF outcomes, women aged 38 to 40 and those aged 41 and older who received growth hormone showed significant increases in 2PN fertilization counts, cleavage embryos, and high-quality embryo rates compared to controls. For patients aged 41 and older with low ovarian responsiveness, growth hormone treatment was also linked to increased endometrial thickness on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration.

What to know: Although the study observed higher numerical trends in clinical pregnancy and implantation rates among growth hormone recipients, these differences did not reach statistical significance. The researchers highlighted that the sample size for older participants was relatively small, meaning larger trials are required to confirm whether these embryo improvements translate into higher live birth rates. Patients seeking assisted reproductive care should discuss all medication choices and protocols with a fertility specialist.