Serum estradiol/progesterone ratio on day of embryo transfer may predict reproductive outcome following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and in vitro fertilization.
BACKGROUND
To determine whether estradiol-to-progesterone (E2/P) ratios at the time of embryo transfer (ET) have an effect on implantation and pregnancy in IVF cycles.


METHODS
239 women consecutively treated by IVF or ICSI were retrospectively analyzed and early luteal serum E2 and P were measured on the day of ET. Transfer occurred after a variable in vitro culture period ranging from 4-7 days after ovulation induction (OI). Following ET, serum E2/P ratios were calculated for clinical pregnancies, preclinical abortions and non-conception cycles.


RESULTS
Receiver-operator curve analysis demonstrated that the E2/P ratio could differentiate between clinical pregnancies and non-pregnant cycles (area under the curve on OI +4 days = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.60-0.80; p = 0.003, on OI +5 days = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.64-0.88; p = 0.001, OI +7 days = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.75-0.96; p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These retrospective data may hold prognostic value regarding endometrial receptivity as reflected by E2/P measurements and may help improve IVF treatment outcome. Further prospective studies should be undertaken to confirm these obersveration.
Gruber
Irmhild
I
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, General Hospital of St. Poelten, Propst Führer-Strasse 4, A-3100 St. Poelten, Austria. ivf@stpoelten.lknoe.at
Just
Alexander
A
Birner
Monika
M
Lösch
Alexander
A