title: Hormonal manipulations in the luteal phase to coordinate subsequent antral follicle growth during ovarian stimulation.
abstract: During the early follicular phase in the menstrual cycle, antral follicle sizes are often markedly heterogeneous. These follicular size discrepancies may, at least in part, result from the early exposure of FSH-sensitive follicles to gradient FSH concentrations during the preceding luteal phase. In addition, they potentially affect the results of ovarian stimulation. Indeed, pre-existing follicle size discrepancies may encumber coordinated follicular growth during ovarian stimulation, thereby reducing the number of follicles that reach maturation at once. To investigate this issue, three clinical studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that luteal FSH suppression could coordinate follicular growth. First, luteal FSH concentrations were artificially lowered by administering physiological oestradiol doses and measured follicular characteristics on the subsequent day 3. Second, it was verified whether luteal oestradiol administration could promote the coordination of follicular growth during ovarian stimulation and improve its results. Third, the effects of premenstrual gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist administration on follicular characteristics were assessed during the early follicular phase. The results showed that luteal FSH suppression by either oestradiol or GnRH antagonist administration reduces the size and improves the homogeneity of early antral follicles during the early follicular phase, an effect that persists during ovarian stimulation. Coordination of follicular development may optimize ovarian response to short GnRH agonist and antagonist protocols, and constitutes an attractive approach to improving their outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, 157, rue de la Porte de Trivaux, 92141, Clamart, France. renato.fanchin@abc.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fanchin
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Méndez Lozano
authors.forename: Luca M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schonäuer
authors.forename: João Sabino
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cunha-Filho
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frydman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D006728:Hormones; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; C062876:cetrorelix