Lower implantation rates in high responders: evidence for an altered endocrine milieu during the preimplantation period.
OBJECTIVE
To determine serum E2 and P levels around the time of implantation in normal and high IVF responders.


METHODS
In Vitro Fertilization program at the Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad.


METHODS
Twenty-nine women undergoing IVF, who accepted to be studied daily, were classified according to the number of oocytes retrieved in normal (n = 16) and high responders (n = 13).


METHODS
Prospective study in which blood was drawn daily from the day of hCG administration (day 0) up to 7 days later (day 6).


METHODS
In vitro fertilization parameters (number of ampules, FSH-hMG, number of oocytes, fertilization rates, number of transferred embryos, implantation rates, and pregnancy rates); serum E2 and P levels during the 7 days of the study.


RESULTS
Implantation rate was significantly higher in normal (18.5%) as compared with high (0%) responders. Estradiol and P levels were elevated significantly in high responders. The E2:P ratio was significantly different between normal and high responders during the preimplantation period. Pregnancy and implantation rates decreased as serum E2 levels increased on days 4 to 6 of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
A different endocrine milieu between normal and high responders is detected by daily steroid measurements up to the preimplantation period, suggesting that this difference could be responsible for an impaired implantation in high responder patients undergoing IVF. An increase in serum E2 levels seems to be the cause of this difference.
Pellicer
A
A
Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain.
Valbuena
D
D
Cano
F
F
Remohí
J
J
Simón
C
C
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol