Effects of low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin on corpus luteum function after embryo transfer

• Published in: Journal of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer 1985-12, Vol.2 (4), p.190-194
• Main Authors: MAHADEVAN, M. M, LEADER, A, TAYLOR, P. J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Chorionic Gonadotropin - administration & dosage; Chorionic Gonadotropin - blood; Corpus Luteum Maintenance - drug effects; Embryo Implantation - drug effects; Embryo Transfer; Estradiol - blood; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Luteal Phase - drug effects; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Progesterone - blood; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0740-7769; 2331-3315; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01201796

This paper reports the effect of low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the levels of serum hCG, progesterone, and estradiol, luteal-phase length, and conception in 20 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Alternate patients in a group of 20 received 1000 IU hCG on the day of embryo transfer and 3 days after. Six and 9 days from embryo transfer 2000 IU hCG was given. The remaining patients served as controls. No patients in the treated group and four in the control group became pregnant. The endocrine profiles with respect to hCG, progesterone, and estradiol levels were similar in the treated patients compared with pregnant patients in the control group. Treated patients had significantly longer (18.0 +/- 1.1 days) luteal phases compared with nonpregnant patients in the control group (12.5 +/- 1.2 days), indicating that low-dose hCG prolonged the life of the corpus luteum. It was concluded that while the administration of low-dose hCG prolonged the life of the corpus luteum, it did not apparently improve the conception rate.