Effects of lianggu decoction combined with Gonal-F on IVF outcomes, embryo quality, and pregnancy in infertility patients undergoing IVF-ET

To investigate the effects of Lianggu decoction combined with Gonal-F on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes in infertility patients, including embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes. A total of 205 patients receiving IVF-ET treatment for infertility at our hospital from June 2022 to January 2024 were selected for the study. Patients were randomly divided into the observation group (102 cases) and the control group (103 cases). The control group received IVF-ET following the conventional Early-Follicular Phase Long-Acting Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Long Protocol (EFLL) therapy, while the observation group was additionally treated with Lianggu decoction to promote ovulation in conjunction with the same regimen. The clinical efficacy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, sex hormone levels at various time points, ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval outcomes, in vitro fertilization results, pregnancy outcomes, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. The total effective rate in the observation group (92.2 %) was significantly higher than that in the control group (75.7 %) (P < 0.05). The TCM syndrome scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of estrogen (E2), LH, and progesterone (P) at baseline were significantly higher compared to those on HCG day in both groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, on HCG day, the levels of E2, LH, and P in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The observation group had a significantly lower Gn usage duration and total Gn dosage, along with a higher metaphase II (MII) oocyte rate, compared to the control group (P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences in endometrial thickness or oocyte retrieval rates between the two groups (P > 0.05). The fertilization rate, 2-pronucleus (2PN) formation rate, good-quality embryo rate, blastocyst formation rate, and implantation rate were significantly higher in the observation group compared to the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the 2PN cleavage rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in the observation group were significantly higher, and the miscarriage rate was significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05). Lianggu decoction combined with Gonal-F can significantly improve TCM syndromes in infertility patients undergoing IVF-ET, promote ovulation, increase clinical pregnancy rates, reduce miscarriage rates, and demonstrate good safety.