Serum leptin concentration during in vitro fertilization treatment with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation: Serum leptin concentration decreases in the early luteal phase in pregnancy

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the change pattern of leptin during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF‐ET) treatment with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and at the stages of very early pregnancy.Methods: The serum leptin concentration was investigated in 65 patients treated with assisted reproductive technology (ART) in five different periods (ART‐1: on the first day of ovarian stimulation with follicle‐stimulating hormone; ART‐2: at human chorionic gonadotropin administration before oocyte retrieval; ART‐3: 7 days after oocyte retrieval; ART‐4: 14 days after oocyte retrieval and ART‐5: 21 days after oocyte retrieval).Results: The leptin concentration showed significant lower values in the pregnancy group than the non‐pregnancy group at ART‐3 and ART‐4 (P < 0.05). In the pregnancy group, leptin concentration increased from ART‐1 (13.5 ± 8.2 ng/mL) to ART‐2 (23.0 ± 15.1 ng/mL) (P < 0.001). The values significantly decrease at 7 days after oocyte retrieval, from ART‐2 to ART‐3 (18.1 ± 12.0 ng/mL) (P < 0.01), and then showed no remarkable change until 21 days after oocyte retrieval. In the non‐pregnancy groups, leptin concentration increased from ART‐1 (17.3 ± 11.5 ng/mL) to ART‐2 (25.7 ± 12.1 ng/mL) (P < 0.0001). There was no remarkable change in leptin concentration until 14 days after oocyte retrieval, followed by a significant decrease in leptin concentration at ART‐4 (21.9 ± 11.9 ng/mL) to ART‐5 (18.1 ± 11.8 ng/mL) (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The serum leptin concentration increases during COH in the pregnancy and non‐pregnacy groups. In the pregnancy group, leptin concentration showed a fall of leptin values at early luteal phase. These findings might be useful to elucidate the role of leptin in the IVF‐ET patients. (Reprod Med Biol 2003; 2: 177–182)