Relationship between peak serum estradiol levels and treatment outcome in in vitro fertilization cycles after embryo transfer on day 3 or day 5.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationships between peak serum estradiol (E(2)) levels and treatment outcome in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles after embryo transfer (ET) on day 3 or day 5.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 697 IVF-ET cycles between January 1999 and December 2001.


METHODS
A university-affiliated assisted reproduction program.


METHODS
Infertile patients undergoing IVF-ET cycles.


METHODS
Peak E(2) concentration in serum was determined on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. The IVF-generated embryos were cultured for 2 days until transfer on day 3. If more than four 8-cell embryos were present on day 3, embryo culture was continued until day 5 for blastocyst transfer.


METHODS
Clinical pregnancy rates.


RESULTS
High peak E(2) levels did not adversely affect treatment outcome. After the cycles were divided according to the day of ET, high peak E(2) levels were associated with improved pregnancy rates after ET on day 5 but not on day 3.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing peak E(2) levels in IVF cycles are associated with improved pregnancy rates after ET on day 5.
Chen
Chi-Huang
CH
Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Zhang
Xingqi
X
Barnes
Randall
R
Confino
Edmond
E
Milad
Magdy
M
Puscheck
Elizabeth
E
Kazer
Ralph R
RR
D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004958:Estradiol