Abstract
BackgroundTwo meta-analyses have shown that pregnancy and birth rates are significantly higher after blastocyst transfer than after cleaved embryo transfer. Other studies have revealed that a serum progesterone level > 1.5 ng/ml on the trigger day is responsible for premature luteinization and is associated with a low pregnancy rate. The objectives of this retrospective study were to determine whether blastocyst transfer gave higher pregnancy rates than cleaved embryo transfer at day 3 in both the general and selected IVF/ICSI populations, and whether the serum progesterone level influenced the pregnancy rate.MethodWe studied IVF/ICSI cycles with GnRH antagonist - FSH/hMG protocols in a general population (n = 1210) and a selected “top cycle” population (n = 677), after blastocyst transfer on day 5 or cleaved embryo transfer on day 3. The selected couples had to meet the following criteria: female age < 35, first or second cycle, and one or two embryos transferred. We recorded predictive factors for pregnancy and calculated the progesterone to oocyte index (POI), the progesterone:estradiol ratio (P:E2 ratio), and the progesterone to follicle (> 14 mm) index (PFI).ResultsIn the general population, the clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher after blastocyst transfer (33.3%) than after cleaved embryo transfer (25.3%; p < 0.01); the same was true for the birth rate (32.1 and 22.8%, respectively, p < 0.01). The differences between blastocyst and embryo transfer groups were not significant in the selected population (respectively 35.7% vs. 35.8% for the clinical pregnancy rate, and 33.9 and 34.9% for the birth rate). The serum progesterone levels on the eve of the trigger day and on the day itself were significantly lower in the pregnant women (p < 0.01). We found a serum progesterone threshold of 0.9 ng/ml, as also reported by other researchers. The POI and the PFI appear to have predictive value for cleaved embryos transfers.ConclusionsBlastocyst transfers were associated with higher clinical pregnancy and birth rates than cleaved embryo transfers in a general population but not in a selected population. The serum progesterone levels on the eve of the trigger day and on the day itself predicted the likelihood of pregnancy.
Highlights
One in six couples will consult for infertility, defined as failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse [1]
Blastocyst transfers were associated with higher clinical pregnancy and birth rates than cleaved embryo transfers in a general population but not in a selected population
We noted a difference in the serum Luteinizing hormone (LH) level as a function of pregnancy, depending on the transfer stage; the LH level was higher among pregnant women than non-pregnant women in the blastocyst transfer group but lower among pregnant women than non-pregnant women in the cleaved embryo transfer group
Summary
One in six couples will consult for infertility, defined as failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse [1] In this setting, in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) is one possible treatment option for achieving a live birth. Two meta-analyses have shown that pregnancy and birth rates are significantly higher after blastocyst transfer than after cleaved embryo transfer. Other studies have revealed that a serum progesterone level > 1.5 ng/ml on the trigger day is responsible for premature luteinization and is associated with a low pregnancy rate The objectives of this retrospective study were to determine whether blastocyst transfer gave higher pregnancy rates than cleaved embryo transfer at day 3 in both the general and selected IVF/ICSI populations, and whether the serum progesterone level influenced the pregnancy rate
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