Kim T, et al. - Women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and ICSI were prospectively studied to assess the relative differences in proinflammatory Th1 cytokines based on duration of controlled ovarian stimulation with exogenous gonadotropins. Based on the median duration length, researchers grouped women into long (>11 days, n=12) or short (≤11 days, n=16) stimulation. Lower levels of proinflammatory Th1 cytokines were noted in women receiving longer duration of exogenous gonadotropins for controlled ovarian stimulation. Higher, but not statistically different, blastulation rates were noted for women with longer stimulation compared to women with shorter duration. In women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive technology, these biochemical differences in cytokine profile may help to assess physiologic changes secondary to exogenous gonadotropin administration and may assist in appraising treatment success.