Can endocrine characteristics of early pregnancy following natural cycle cryopreserved embryo transfer predict live birth?

RESEARCH QUESTION: Can serial measurements of serum oestradiol, progesterone and ß-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) concentrations, starting from the day of the first positive pregnancy test, predict live birth after natural cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer (NC-FET)? DESIGN: This was a historical cohort study of women with a positive pregnancy test following NC-FET, between March 2009 and January 2020. Serum ß-HCG, oestradiol and progesterone concentrations were measured on the day of the first pregnancy test and 48 and 96 h later. Pregnancies resulting in a live birth were compared with non-viable pregnancies. RESULTS: Of 101 women with a positive pregnancy test included in the study, 78 had a live birth and 23 had a non-viable pregnancy. Serum ß-HCG concentrations were comparable on the day of the first pregnancy test (P = 0.09) but became significantly higher in women with a live birth 48 and 96 h later (P = 0.018 and P = 0.003). Serum oestradiol concentrations were higher in women with a live birth at all three measurements (P = 0.02, P = 0.007 and P = 0.02). Serum progesterone concentrations were higher 48 h after the first pregnancy test in women with a live birth (P = 0.04). On multivariate analysis, after controlling for the women's ages and number of embryos transferred, serum concentrations above the 25th percentile for oestradiol (>488-526 pmol/L) and progesterone (>63-70 nmol/L) were independent predictors of live birth at all three measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum oestradiol and progesterone concentrations in early NC-FET pregnancies are associated with increased likelihood of live birth. Oestradiol and progesterone concentrations can be used in conjunction with ß-HCG to predict pregnancy viability and assist in patient counselling.

Pregnancy outcome in women with an intrauterine contraceptive device.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pregnancy outcome in patients who conceived with an intrauterine contraceptive device. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study comparing the pregnancy outcome of women with retained intrauterine device (n = 98), patients after intrauterine device removal in early pregnancy (n = 194), and pregnancies without an intrauterine device (n = 141,191) was performed. RESULTS: A significant linear association was documented among the 3 groups and adverse outcomes such as preterm delivery (18.4% in the retained intrauterine device, 14.4 % in removed intrauterine device, and 7.3% in the no-intrauterine device group; P < .001) and chorioamnionitis (7.1% in the retained intrauterine device, 4.1% in removed intrauterine device and 0.7% in the no-intrauterine device group; P < .001). The presence of retained or removed intrauterine device was found as an independent risk factor for both preterm delivery and chorioamnionitis in multivariable models. CONCLUSION: Women conceiving with an intrauterine device are at increased risk for adverse obstetric outcomes, whereas the risk is higher for pregnancies with retained intrauterine device compared with early intrauterine device removal.