Growth Hormone Dynamics in Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Summary
Growth hormone plays a multifaceted role in assisted reproductive technologies by influencing ovarian follicular development, oocyte maturation and endometrial receptivity. Acting via direct binding to growth hormone receptors and indirectly through the insulin-like growth factor axis, it modulates key intracellular signalling pathways including JAK/STAT, MAP kinase and PI3K/Akt. Such interactions enhance granulosa cell proliferation, mitochondrial activity and steroidogenesis, thereby improving oocyte quality and embryo competence. Clinical use of growth hormone has primarily targeted poor ovarian responders, aged women and patients with diminished ovarian reserve, with aims to increase oocyte yield and optimise pregnancy outcomes. Despite promising mechanistic insights, clinical trials have yielded mixed results, underscoring the need for standardised protocols, patient stratification and further translational research to define optimal dosage and timing globally.
Research from Nature Portfolio
A recent network meta-analysis evaluated seven growth hormone supplementation protocols in patients with poor ovarian response. Daily administration of 4–8 IU during the follicular phase emerged as most effective, enhancing the number of retrieved and mature oocytes, improving endometrial thickness and reducing gonadotropin requirements. Subgroup analysis indicated significant gains in clinical pregnancy rate among trial and African cohorts. Findings support the adoption of this regimen in clinical practice while advocating further multi-arm randomised trials to confirm long-term reproductive benefits.
Growth Hormone Dynamics in Assisted Reproductive Technologies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in growth hormone dynamics in assisted reproductive technologies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Aneuploidy: The presence of an abnormal chromosome number in an oocyte, often impairing embryo development.
Follicular fluid (FF): The complex biological medium surrounding the oocyte within the ovarian follicle, rich in metabolites and signalling molecules.
Poor ovarian response (POR): A condition in which a patient yields fewer oocytes than expected following standard controlled ovarian stimulation.
Gonadotropins: Hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone used to stimulate follicle development in ART protocols.
Network meta-analysis (NMA): A statistical technique that combines direct and indirect evidence to compare multiple interventions simultaneously.
References
- Growth hormone reduces aneuploidy and improves oocytes quality by JAK2-MAPK3/1 pathway in aged mice. Journal of Translational Medicine (2023).
- Empirical use of growth hormone in IVF is useless: the largest randomized controlled trial. Human Reproduction (2024).
- The effect of growth hormone on the metabolome of follicular fluid in patients with diminished ovarian reserve. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2023).
- Comparative efficacy of different growth hormone supplementation protocols in improving clinical outcomes in women with poor ovarian response undergoing assisted reproductive therapy: a network meta-analysis. Scientific Reports (2024).
- Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Action in Reproductive Tissues. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2019).
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