The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin day serum progesterone level on the live birth rate of fresh embryo transfer with GnRH antagonist protocols

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)day serum progesterone (P) level on the live birth rate (LBR) of fresh embryo transfer with GnRH antagonist protocols. Methods: Patients who underwent the first IVF/ICSI in the Reproductive Center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to December 2020 were included for analysis. The patients with normal ovarian response with GnRH antagonist protocols were included (n=765). The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to select the optimal cut-off value of serum P on HCG day (0.83 μg/L), and the included cycles were divided into two groups: P<0.83 μg/L (n=444) and P≥0.83 μg/L (n=321). The primary outcome measure was LBR. Secondary outcome measures included clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and early miscarriage rate. The difference of the above indexes between the two groups was compared. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the effect of serum P level on LBR in fresh embryo transfer cycles. Results: The maternal ages in P<0.83 μg/L group and P≥0.83 μg/L group were (32.40±5.49) years and (32.53±5.51) yeas, respectively. The paternal ages were (33.35±6.34) years and (33.43±6.38) years, respectively of which, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The CPR in the P<0.83 μg/L group was 45.9% (n=204), which was significantly higher than that in the P≥0.83 μg/L group (37.1%) (n=119) (P=0.014). There was no significant difference in the early miscarriage rate between the two groups [14.2% (n=29) vs 14.3% (n=17), P=0.986]. The LBR in the P<0.83 μg/L group was significantly higher than that in the P≥0.83 μg/L group [36.3% (n=161) vs 28.0% (n=90), P=0.017]. By multivariate logistic regression model analysis, the maternal age, type of embryo transferred, number of embryos transferred, endometrial thickness on HCG day and serum P level on HCG day were independent risk factors of LBR. The adjust OR(95%CI) were 0.91(0.88-0.94), 2.36(1.04-5.35), 1.84(1.14-2.95), 1.16(1.07-1.25)and 0.63(0.44-0.89), all P<0.05. Conclusion: When the GnRH antagonist protocol is applied in the normal ovarian response population, as the serum P on the HCG trigger day≥0.83 μg/L, the CPR and LBR of fresh embryo transfer are decreased.