Luteal estradiol pretreatment of poor and normal responders during GnRH antagonist protocol

• Published in: Gynecological endocrinology 2019-12, Vol.35 (12), p.1067-1071
• Main Authors: Sefrioui, Omar, Madkour, Aicha, Kaarouch, Ismail, Louanjli, Noureddine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Chorionic Gonadotropin - therapeutic use; Embryo Transfer; Estradiol - administration & dosage; Estrogens - administration & dosage; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - methods; Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human - therapeutic use; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - analogs & derivatives; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - antagonists & inhibitors; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - therapeutic use; Hormone Antagonists - therapeutic use; Humans; in vitro fertilization; Luteal estradiol pretreatment; Luteal Phase; normal responders; oocyte maturation; Oocyte Retrieval; Ovarian Follicle; Ovulation Induction - methods; poor responders; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0951-3590; 1473-0766
• DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2019.1622086

Luteal estradiol pretreatment (LEP) to IVF protocols designed to improve follicle synchronization and retrieval of mature oocytes. We conducted a retrospective study including women undergoing IVF program who were given a course of 4 mg oral estradiol-17β daily from day 20 of the same cycle until day 1 of their next cycle before starting an antagonist protocol, forming LEP-group but control-group started on day 3 a stimulation without pretreatment. A total is divided into 2 groups (poor (group 1, n = 148) and normal responders (group 2, n = 244)). Our findings show for group 1 a significant decrease in cancelation rate (3% vs 14%) and a significant improvement in clinical outcomes (clinical pregnancy per transfer and live birth rate respectively: 47% and 44% vs 12% and 11%). For group 2, this pretreatment could increase significantly the maturation rate (77% vs 68%). The rate of frozen embryos was improved in both groups: (group 1: 11% vs 2% and group 2: 53% vs 41%). LEP increases the frozen embryos rate whatever the nature of the ovarian response, but especially for normal responders it coordinates follicular recruitment increasing the maturation rate. In the case of poor responders, it affects positively clinical outcomes decreasing the canceled cycles.