Luteal estrogen supplementation in stimulated cycles may improve the pregnancy rate in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of estradiol addition to progesterone supplementation during the luteal phase on pregnancy and implantation rates in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) cycles.


METHODS
In this prospective, randomized study, carried out in an IVF unit of a university hospital, we studied patients who were undergoing IVF/ICSI with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist/human recombinant gonadotropin long protocol. The main outcome measures were the pregnancy and implantation rates measured in the two groups.


RESULTS
Our results suggest higher pregnancy and implantation rates in IVF/ICSI-ET cycles that were supplemented with estradiol in the luteal phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Estradiol supplementation during the luteal phase in women undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET has a beneficial effect on the outcome without (at least, as seems from this study) having any adverse effects.
Drakakis
Peter
P
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IVF Unit, Alexandra Maternity Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Loutradis
Dimitris
D
Vomvolaki
Eleftheria
E
Stefanidis
Konstantinos
K
Kiapekou
Erasmia
E
Anagnostou
Elli
E
Anastasiadou
Kiki
K
Milingos
Spiros
S
Antsaklis
Aris
A
D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008183:Luteal Phase; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol