title: Meta-analysis of estradiol for luteal phase support in in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the addition of E(2) for luteal phase support (LPS) in IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) could improve the outcome of clinical pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women underwent IVF or ICSI using the GnRH agonist or GnRH antagonist protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Progesterone alone or combined with E(2) for LPS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical pregnancy rate per patient (CPR/PA), clinical pregnancy rate per ET, implantation rate, ongoing pregnancy rate per patient, clinical abortion rate, and ectopic pregnancy rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified that included a total of 2,406 patients. There was no statistical difference between E(2) + P group and P-only group regarding the primary outcome of CPR/PA for different routes of administration of E(2) (oral, vaginal, and transdermal) or other relevant outcome measures. No significant effect was observed for different daily doses of E(2) (6, 4, and 2 mg), even through oral medication in CPR/PA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The best available evidence suggests that E(2) addition during the luteal phase does not improve IVF/ICSI outcomes through oral medication, even with different daily doses. Furthermore, RCTs that study other administration routes are needed.
authors.affiliation: College of Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Situ
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The First Affliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianqiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Pengke
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: College of Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinhuang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: College of Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Songzhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Insititute of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: huangmin@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Estradiol; intracytoplasmic sperm injection; in vitro fertilization; luteal phase support; meta-analysis; progesterone