title: Cryopreserved embryo transfer in an artificial cycle: is GnRH agonist down-regulation necessary?
abstract: The use of GnRH agonist downregulation in artificial endometrium priming cycles for cryopreserved embryo transfer was retrospectively investigated to establish whether higher live birth rates resulted. Six hundred and ninety-nine patients underwent 1129 artificial endometrium priming cycles for the transfer of cryopreserved embryos between 1 July 2009 and 1 June 2012. Hormonal supplementation with (group A, n = 280 cycles) or without (group B, n = 849 cycles) GnRH agonist co-treatment was given. Live birth rates were comparable between the two groups per started cycle (14.9% [41/275] in group A versus 15.1% [127/839] in group B) or per embryo transfer (17.5% [41/234] in group A versus 17.6% [127/723] in group B). After logistic regression analysis, the only variables that were significantly associated with live birth rates were day of embryo transfer (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.98) for day 3 versus day 5 embryos, the number of embryos transferred (OR 2.13; 95% CI 1.58 to 2.86) for two embryos versus one embryo transferred and the endometrial thickness on the day of embryo transfer (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.25). Live birth rates after cryopreserved embryo transfer in artificial cycles did not increase when a GnRH agonist was administered.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussel, Belgium. Electronic address: arne.vandevijver@uzbrussel.be.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van de Vijver
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Polyzos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Landuyt
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camus
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stoop
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tournaye
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blockeel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D002064:Buserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D002064:Buserelin
keywords: GnRH agonist; artificially prepared cycle; cryopreserved embryo transfer; endometrium; live birth rate