Growth hormone (GH) is secreted by the pituitary gland and leads to synthesis of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the liver. IGF-1 receptors are present on egg cells and the surrounding granulosa and theca cells in the follicle, and can assist in the process of egg maturation. For this reason, GH is often used during ovarian stimulation for poor responders (as Omnitrope) and may improve the quantity and quality of eggs retrieved (Hart 2019).
It also has a possible benefit on the endometrium, such as increasing endometrial thickness in poor responders or in those with recurrent implantation failure, as well as improving pregnancy outcomes (Shang et al. 2022).
Synonyms:
GH, omnitrope