Luteal supplementation with estradiol and progesterone in patients stimulated with GnRH antagonist rFSH for IVF

Abstract EN

The use of progesterone for luteal support in stimulated cycles for in-vitro fertilization is well established.

However, the benefits of the addition of estradiol are still controversial.

The aim of this study was to compare ongoing pregnancy rates in patients stimulated with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone and gonadotrophin releasing hormone antagonist for in vitro fertilization, who received micronized progesterone for luteal phase supplementation, with or without the addition of estradiol.

Thirty-five patients underwent ovarian stimulation with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone and gonadotrophin releasing hormone antagonist and received micronized progesterone for luteal phase supplementation.

These patients were compared to 32 other patients who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone and gonadotrophin releasing hormone antagonist and who also received micronized progesterone and estradiol for luteal phase supplementation.

There was no significant difference between the two groups for mean-age, duration of infertility or base line follicle stimulating hormone, number of ampoules of gonadotrophin used, number of mature oocyte retrieved, estradiol concentration on the day of injection of human chronic gonadotrophin, fertilization rate or number of embryo transferred.

Ten ongoing pregnancies were achieved in the progesterone group (28%) and 9 in the progesterone/estradiol group (25%) (p = 0.613).

The addition of estradiol to progesterone in the luteal phase after stimulation with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone and gonadotrophin releasing hormone antagonist does not enhance the probability of pregnancy.