OBJECTIVE: To assess whether supplementation with hCG throughout the secretory phase of hormonally modulated cycles of frozen-thawed embryos might positively affect the outcome of such cycles. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled trial. SETTING:University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Patients undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Patients were randomly divided into two groups by the last digit of their identification number. Group A received our standard protocol for endometrial preparation, whereas group B patients were given an additional 250 microg of recombinant hCG on day of P initiation, the day of embryo transfer, and 6 days later. Throughout the cycle, and to compare between the groups, serial ultrasound examinations and hormonal tests of E(2) and P serum levels were obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Implantation and clinical pregnancy rates (PR). RESULT(S): One hundred sixty-five patients were enrolled in this study, 78 in the control group and 87 in the hCG-treated group. Progesterone levels and endometrial thickness were similar throughout the cycle in both groups. The E(2) level was significantly higher in group B on the day of embryo transfer and 6 days later. The PRs did not differ between the two groups (28.2% and 32.2% for groups A and B, respectively). Similarly, the implantation rates were comparable between the groups (12.7% and 14.9%, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): No advantage was found concerning PR and implantation rate by supplementing the secretory phase with hCG in patients undergoing transfer of frozen-thawed embryo in hormonally modulated cycles. Copyright 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether supplementation with hCG throughout the secretory phase of hormonally modulated cycles of frozen-thawed embryos might positively affect the outcome of such cycles. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Patients undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Patients were randomly divided into two groups by the last digit of their identification number. Group A received our standard protocol for endometrial preparation, whereas group B patients were given an additional 250 microg of recombinant hCG on day of P initiation, the day of embryo transfer, and 6 days later. Throughout the cycle, and to compare between the groups, serial ultrasound examinations and hormonal tests of E(2) and P serum levels were obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Implantation and clinical pregnancy rates (PR). RESULT(S): One hundred sixty-five patients were enrolled in this study, 78 in the control group and 87 in the hCG-treated group. Progesterone levels and endometrial thickness were similar throughout the cycle in both groups. The E(2) level was significantly higher in group B on the day of embryo transfer and 6 days later. The PRs did not differ between the two groups (28.2% and 32.2% for groups A and B, respectively). Similarly, the implantation rates were comparable between the groups (12.7% and 14.9%, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): No advantage was found concerning PR and implantation rate by supplementing the secretory phase with hCG in patients undergoing transfer of frozen-thawed embryo in hormonally modulated cycles. Copyright 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors: Barbara Wirleitner; Maximilian Schuff; Pierre Vanderzwalmen; Astrid Stecher; Jasmin Okhowat; Libor Hradecký; Tomáš Kohoutek; Milena Králícková; Dietmar Spitzer; Nicolas H Zech Journal: Reprod Biol Endocrinol Date: 2015-07-04 Impact factor: 5.211