OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the levels of urinary steroid metabolites of patients with successful in vitro fertilization and patients who failed to achieve pregnancy. DESIGN: Comparison of urinary steroid profiles prior to oocyte pick-up and three weeks after embryo transfer. SETTING: University hospital. SAMPLE: Eleven women in the same age range with pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and eleven women who failed to achieve pregnancy. METHODS: The standard "long" protocol was used for ovarian stimulation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection for assisted in vitro fertilization. The steroid metabolites in urine samples collected for 24 h were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Steroid metabolite levels in urine samples determined in the early pregnancy period. RESULTS: The levels of androsterone, etiocholanolone, pregnanediol, tetrahydro-11-dehydrocorticosterone and tetrahydro-corticosterone were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the urine of women with successful pregnancy three weeks after the embryo transfer, while the levels of tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisol, allo-tetrahydrocortisol and α-cortolone became higher in the group of patients with unsuccessful pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The production of androgens, progesterone and corticoid steroid metabolites is altered in the early pregnancy period after in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the levels of urinary steroid metabolites of patients with successful in vitro fertilization and patients who failed to achieve pregnancy. DESIGN: Comparison of urinary steroid profiles prior to oocyte pick-up and three weeks after embryo transfer. SETTING: University hospital. SAMPLE: Eleven women in the same age range with pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and eleven women who failed to achieve pregnancy. METHODS: The standard "long" protocol was used for ovarian stimulation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection for assisted in vitro fertilization. The steroid metabolites in urine samples collected for 24 h were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Steroid metabolite levels in urine samples determined in the early pregnancy period. RESULTS: The levels of androsterone, etiocholanolone, pregnanediol, tetrahydro-11-dehydrocorticosterone and tetrahydro-corticosterone were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the urine of women with successful pregnancy three weeks after the embryo transfer, while the levels of tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisol, allo-tetrahydrocortisol and α-cortolone became higher in the group of patients with unsuccessful pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The production of androgens, progesterone and corticoid steroid metabolites is altered in the early pregnancy period after in vitro fertilization.
Authors: Katarzyna Kosicka; Anna Siemiątkowska; Agata Szpera-Goździewicz; Mariola Krzyścin; Grzegorz H Bręborowicz; Franciszek K Główka Journal: Endocrine Date: 2018-04-02 Impact factor: 3.633