Serum progesterone level in luteal phase improves pregnancy rate in fresh cycles with blastocyst embryo transfer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between serum level of progesterone during stimulation and in the luteal phase with pregnancy rate in a cohort of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) on day 5. METHODS: Retrospective Cohort Study. Patients: 62 infertile women, aged 24-42 years, undergoing ART at our center from May 2019 to May 2021. Progesterone was evaluated during ovarian stimulation on Day 2, Day 6, and Day 8 of stimulation, day of trigger (P4dhCG), and on the day of blastocyst transfer with 5 days of progesterone supplementation (P4d5+). We also calculated the difference of P4d5+ with P4dhCG. (∆P4). Then we divided the patients into two groups based on progesterone serum levels at P4d5+; <10ng/ml (Group A), ≥10ng/ml (Group B). The Student's t-test was performed for continuous variables; Mann-Whitney's Test and Spearman's Test were used where appropriate for categorical variables. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were positive correlations between ßhCG positive with P4d5+ (p<0.001; Rho 0.770) and ∆P4 (p<0.001; Rho 0.703). The pregnancy rate doubled when the serum progesterone level was ≥10ng/ml on the fifth day of progesterone supplementation compared with P4<10ng/ml (44% vs. 21%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The pregnancy rate was positively correlated with the serum P4 level on the fifth day of progesterone supplementation and with the difference between the serum progesterone level in the Dd5+ / dhCG. A higher pregnancy rate was observed when serum progesterone level on the fifth day of progesterone supplementation was ≥10ng/ml.

A comparison of the effects of three different estrogen used for endometrium preparation on the outcome of day 5 frozen embryo transfer cycle.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of three different estrogen used for endometrium preparation on pregnancy rate, as well as hormone profile on day 5 frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. METHODS: Retrospective, observational study. Setting: A tertiary teaching and research private reproductive medicine center. Patients: Ninety patients who were undergoing endometrium preparation for day five frozen embryo transfer cycle (FET). Intervention(s): The women were divided in three groups according to the administration route of estrogen (E2): oral (Primogyna), transdermal patches (Estradot), or transdermal gel (Oestrogel Pump). These administration routines of estrogen are equivalent to 6mg of estradiol daily. All women received 600mg of vaginal progesterone (P) per day (Utrogestan) for luteal phase support. We drew blood samples on starting P day, as well as on beta hCG day for E2 and P measurements. Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical pregnancy rates (PR). RESULTS: Patient features in the three groups were comparable. There were no significant differences concerning implantation rate, clinical PR, miscarriage rate, multiple-pregnancy rate, or E2 and P levels on starting P day and on beta hCG day. CONCLUSIONS: In FET cycles with oral (Primogyna) or transdermal patches (Estradot), or transdermal gel (Oestrogel Pump), there was no significant difference on pregnancy rates.

Which ovarian reserve marker relates to embryo quality on day 3 and blastocyst; age, AFC, AMH?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate which ovarian reserve marker would be more reliable as the quality of the A + B embryos (day 3 and blastocyst). METHODS: We ran a prospective study with 124 infertile women, aged 24-48 years, from 2017 to 2018. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to age and the subgroups were compared for AMH, AFC, number of A+B embryos. New division of the 3 groups was performed based on the AMH, and the subgroups were compared for age, AFC and number of A+B embryos. Finally, we divided the patients into 3 groups, based on the AFC, and we compared the subgroups for age, AMH and number of A+B embryos. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: When the 124 patients were divided according to age, we found a significant fall in an A+B embryo quality (day3; blastocyst) after 35 years (p<0.038; p<0.035), and more severely after 37 years (p<0.032; p<0.027). When the 124 patients were divided according to AMH, there was a significant fall in A+B embryo quality (day 3; blastocyst), with AMH<1ng/ml (p<0.023; p<0.021). When the 124 patients were divided according to AFC, there was a significant fall in A+B embryo quality (day 3; blastocyst) with AFC<7 (p<0.025; p<0.023). These markers had significant associations with embryo quality (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: Age, AFC and AMH have significant associations with A +B embryo quality on day 3 and blastocyst.