title: Can we abandon routine evaluation of serum estradiol levels during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproduction?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether abandoning measurement of serum estradiol (E2) and spacing ultrasound evaluations at greater intervals had an effect on the results of assisted reproduction technology (ART).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective comparison of two consecutive periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Division of Assisted Reproduction Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand nine hundred and eighty-five controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycles for ART were initiated during the years 1996 to 1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the first 2 years an intensive follow-up protocol was used that included E2 blood levels measurements. In the next 2 years a less intensive protocol was adopted that did not use E2 measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  ART results and the rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' background characteristics did not differ between the two periods. The cancellation rate was not different (9.8% vs. 7.2%). There was no difference in the duration of stimulation or the amount of gonadotropins used. The number of oocytes retrieved (12.1 +/- 9.3 vs. 9.6 +/- 6.3), fertilization rates (74% vs. 75%), and clinical pregnancy rates (26.2% vs. 27.9%) did not differ. The incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome was not significantly different between the two periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for ART can be done reliably without routine, serial serum E2 measurements without compromising the treatment results.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproduction Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben-Shlomo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geslevich
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shalev
mesh_terms: D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012099:Reproductive Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol