Fertility Decoded

Growth hormone (adjuvant)

Injected growth hormone added to stimulation, aimed at poor responders.

Written by Fertility Decoded. Reviewed by D R, MS (OBG), FRM. Review date: 31 August 2026.

The verdict

Not shown to improve your chance of a baby, including for poor responders.

Who are these bodies?

HFEA
— UK fertility regulator; rates add-ons by evidence (traffic-light).
ESHRE
— European fertility society; evidence-based practice guidance.
NICE
— UK health-guidance body; what the NHS will and won't fund.
ISAR
— Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction; Indian expert consensus.
Cochrane
— Independent global reviewers of the underlying studies.

  • HFEA

    UK regulator

    Not on HFEA's rated list — chance of a baby

  • ESHRE

    European society

    Not recommended (research only)

    Not recommended (grouped with ovarian-stimulation add-ons).

    Source

  • NICE

    UK NHS guidance

    Not addressed

    Not addressed in NG257.

  • ISAR

    Indian society

    No position

    Not addressed in the 2021 ISAR add-ons consensus.

  • Cochrane

    Evidence base

    Cochrane (2021): very uncertain effect on live birth; the largest RCT (2025) concluded empirical GH use in IVF does not improve live birth.

Typical cost in India

Adds notable drug cost (growth hormone is expensive); varies widely.

Sources

Take this further

Sources last reviewed .