Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levels
ObjectivesHormone replacement therapy (HRT) frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles are common in assisted reproductive techniques. As the corpus luteum is absent in these cycles, luteal phase support is provided by administering progesterone (P4) through transvaginal, parenteral, or oral routes. Low se...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1503008/full |
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| author | Secil Irem Arik Alpcetin Onur Ince Bengisu Akcay Munire Funda Cevher Akdulum Erhan Demirdag Ahmet Erdem Ahmet Erdem Mehmet Erdem Mehmet Erdem |
| author_facet | Secil Irem Arik Alpcetin Onur Ince Bengisu Akcay Munire Funda Cevher Akdulum Erhan Demirdag Ahmet Erdem Ahmet Erdem Mehmet Erdem Mehmet Erdem |
| author_sort | Secil Irem Arik Alpcetin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesHormone replacement therapy (HRT) frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles are common in assisted reproductive techniques. As the corpus luteum is absent in these cycles, luteal phase support is provided by administering progesterone (P4) through transvaginal, parenteral, or oral routes. Low serum levels of P4 (below 9-10 ng/mL) on the day before embryo transfer (ET) have been associated with unfavorable cycle outcomes. The aim of this study is to investigate whether individualizing luteal support through rescue protocols in patients with low serum P4 levels improves pregnancy outcomes in HRT-FET cycles.Material and methodThis retrospective, single-center cohort analysis includes 1257 cycles involving 942 patients undergoing HRT-FET. Starting in 2019, we have assessed P4 levels before ET day and adjusted MVP doses when P4 levels were <10 ng/mL. In 2021, subcutaneous (SC) P4 was routinely added alongside MVP, with SC doses increased if P4 levels were <10 ng/mL. In this study, Groups 1 and 2 received MVP for luteal support, while Groups 3 and 4 received additional SC progesterone. For patients with P levels below the cut-off level (10 ng/mL) in Groups 2 and 4, the P dose was doubled through a rescue protocol.ResultsIn the MVP and MVP plus SC groups, 15.8% and 8.9% of the cycles had P4 levels <10 ng/mL, respectively. Ongoing pregnancy rates (OPR) and clinical pregnancy rates (CPR) did not differ between study groups. Regression analysis with a mixed model revealed that age, endometrial thickness, and estradiol levels were confounding factors as well as independent predictors of ongoing pregnancy rates (p<0.05). Pairwise regression analysis revealed no significant differences in pregnancy rates between the groups (p>0.05).ConclusionIndividualizing luteal phase support based on serum P4 levels on the day of ET in FET cycles with HRT may enhance pregnancy outcomes by either doubling the vaginal dose or increasing the SC dose during MVP plus SC administration. The implemented rescue protocol allowed patients with low progesterone levels to achieve pregnancy outcomes similar to those with higher progesterone levels. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-276798de1eed468f8815367a08ea2233 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-2392 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj-art-276798de1eed468f8815367a08ea22332025-01-17T08:27:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-01-011510.3389/fendo.2024.15030081503008Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levelsSecil Irem Arik Alpcetin0Onur Ince1Bengisu Akcay2Munire Funda Cevher Akdulum3Erhan Demirdag4Ahmet Erdem5Ahmet Erdem6Mehmet Erdem7Mehmet Erdem8Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University, Ankara, TürkiyeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, TürkiyeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University, Ankara, TürkiyeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University, Ankara, TürkiyeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University, Ankara, TürkiyeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University, Ankara, TürkiyeNovaArt Reproductive Health and Fertility Center, Ankara, TürkiyeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University, Ankara, TürkiyeNovaArt Reproductive Health and Fertility Center, Ankara, TürkiyeObjectivesHormone replacement therapy (HRT) frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles are common in assisted reproductive techniques. As the corpus luteum is absent in these cycles, luteal phase support is provided by administering progesterone (P4) through transvaginal, parenteral, or oral routes. Low serum levels of P4 (below 9-10 ng/mL) on the day before embryo transfer (ET) have been associated with unfavorable cycle outcomes. The aim of this study is to investigate whether individualizing luteal support through rescue protocols in patients with low serum P4 levels improves pregnancy outcomes in HRT-FET cycles.Material and methodThis retrospective, single-center cohort analysis includes 1257 cycles involving 942 patients undergoing HRT-FET. Starting in 2019, we have assessed P4 levels before ET day and adjusted MVP doses when P4 levels were <10 ng/mL. In 2021, subcutaneous (SC) P4 was routinely added alongside MVP, with SC doses increased if P4 levels were <10 ng/mL. In this study, Groups 1 and 2 received MVP for luteal support, while Groups 3 and 4 received additional SC progesterone. For patients with P levels below the cut-off level (10 ng/mL) in Groups 2 and 4, the P dose was doubled through a rescue protocol.ResultsIn the MVP and MVP plus SC groups, 15.8% and 8.9% of the cycles had P4 levels <10 ng/mL, respectively. Ongoing pregnancy rates (OPR) and clinical pregnancy rates (CPR) did not differ between study groups. Regression analysis with a mixed model revealed that age, endometrial thickness, and estradiol levels were confounding factors as well as independent predictors of ongoing pregnancy rates (p<0.05). Pairwise regression analysis revealed no significant differences in pregnancy rates between the groups (p>0.05).ConclusionIndividualizing luteal phase support based on serum P4 levels on the day of ET in FET cycles with HRT may enhance pregnancy outcomes by either doubling the vaginal dose or increasing the SC dose during MVP plus SC administration. The implemented rescue protocol allowed patients with low progesterone levels to achieve pregnancy outcomes similar to those with higher progesterone levels.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1503008/fullinfertilityfrozen embryo replacement cycleprogesteroneluteal phase support (LPS)assisted reproductive techniques |
| spellingShingle | Secil Irem Arik Alpcetin Onur Ince Bengisu Akcay Munire Funda Cevher Akdulum Erhan Demirdag Ahmet Erdem Ahmet Erdem Mehmet Erdem Mehmet Erdem Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levels Frontiers in Endocrinology infertility frozen embryo replacement cycle progesterone luteal phase support (LPS) assisted reproductive techniques |
| title | Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levels |
| title_full | Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levels |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levels |
| title_short | Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levels |
| title_sort | comparison of individualized rescue luteal phase support strategies with vaginal and combined vaginal subcutaneous progesterone administration in artificial frozen thawed blastocyst embryo transfer cycles based on serum progesterone levels |
| topic | infertility frozen embryo replacement cycle progesterone luteal phase support (LPS) assisted reproductive techniques |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1503008/full |
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