The effects of growth hormone on clinical outcomes after frozen-thawed embryo transfer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on clinical outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET).


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted among 240 patients (aged ≤38years) who underwent FET cycles at a center in Hefei, China, between November 2011 and October 2012. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of visit order: those in group A received hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) for endometrial preparation, those in group B received HRT plus simultaneous rhGH, and those in group C received rhGH on day8 of HRT.


RESULTS
Ten cycles were cancelled; 230 FET cycles were analyzed (77 in group A, 77 in group B, 76 in group C). The rates of clinical pregnancy, embryo implantation, and live birth were significantly higher in group B than in group A, as were the serum levels of estradiol and insulin-like growth factor-1 (P≤0.033 for all comparisons). Endometrial thickness and serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor were significantly higher in group B than in groups A and C, whereas pulsatility index, resistance index, and peak systolic velocity/end diastolic velocity of the uterine arcuate artery were significantly lower (P≤0.017 for all comparisons).


CONCLUSIONS
Simultaneous administration of rhGH with HRT could improve clinical outcomes after FET by increasing endometrial blood perfusion and expression of cytokines related to endometrial receptivity.
Reproductive Medicine Centre, 105th Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Hefei, China.
Wang
W
Xue-Mei
Reproductive Medicine Centre, 105th Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Hefei, China. Electronic address: jiangh105@sina.com.
Jiang
J
Hong
Reproductive Medicine Centre, 105th Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Hefei, China.
Zhang
Z
Wen-Xiang
Reproductive Medicine Centre, 105th Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Hefei, China.
Li
L
Yang
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D050498:Live Birth; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Clinical outcomes; Endometrial receptivity; Frozen–thawed embryo transfer; Growth hormone; Hormone-replacement therapy