Effect of ovarian stimulation with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone, gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists, and human chorionic gonadotropin on endometrial maturation on the day of oocyte pick-up.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH, GnRH antagonists, and hCG on endometrial maturation on the day of oocyte pick-up.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Fifty-five women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).


METHODS
[1] Ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH, starting on day 2 of the cycle and GnRH antagonist, starting after a median of 6 days of recombinant FSH stimulation (range, 5-12 days); [2] hCG administration for ovulation induction; and [3] aspirational biopsy of endometrium at oocyte pick-up.


METHODS
Endometrial histology at oocyte pick-up by Noyes criteria.


RESULTS
Advancement of endometrial maturation (2.5 +/- 0.1 days) as compared to the expected chronological date was observed in all antagonist cycles at oocyte retrieval. Endometrial advancement at oocyte pick-up increased in line with values of LH at initiation of stimulation and the duration of recombinant FSH treatment before the antagonist was started.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher the values of LH at initiation of stimulation and the longer the duration of recombinant FSH treatment before the antagonist is started, the more advanced the endometrial maturation at oocyte pick-up.
Kolibianakis
Efstratios
E
Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Dutch-Speaking Brussels Free University, Brussels, Belgium. stratis@easynet.be
Bourgain
Claire
C
Albano
Carola
C
Osmanagaoglu
Kaan
K
Smitz
Johan
J
Van Steirteghem
Andre
A
Devroey
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone