The effect of serum luteinizing hormone on trigger day with a GnRH antagonist protocol in IVF/ICSI treatment

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) on trigger day with a Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol in patients receiving in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) treatment for pregnancy outcomes. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical documents of patients receiving IVF/ICSI with fresh embryo transfers from the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University People's Hospital between January 2016 and December 2018.730 patients were included and divided into three groups by their serum LH level determined on trigger day. All patients were categorized into Group A, Group B, and Group C based on LH concentrations <1.0 IU/L, 1.0–5.0 IU/L, and from 5.0 to 10.0 IU/L on trigger day during the cycle, respectively. Comparisons were made between the three groups. ResultsThere was a significant difference in implantation rates between Group A and Group C (24.8% versus 40.1%, respectively, P ​< ​0.05). The clinical pregnancy rates (39.3% versus 54.3%, respectively, P ​= ​0.078) and live birth rate (LBR) (32.1% versus 46.5%, respectively, P ​= ​0.116), though the differences were not significant. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the OR of Group C for clinical pregnancy (OR ​= ​1.849, P ​= ​0.040) and for LBR (OR ​= ​1.915, P ​= ​0.034) were significant using Group A as the base level. ConclusionsOur study has demonstrated that patients with higher serum LH levels (5.0–10.0 IU/L) on trigger day in the GnRH antagonist protocol may confer better clinical outcomes than those with lower LH levels (<1.0 IU/L).