凍胚植入時, 若P4過低(<9 ng/ml)可能導致懷孕率明顯下降

Hum Reprod. 2017 Oct 13:1-6. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dex316. [Epub ahead of print]

Low serum progesterone on the day of embryo transfer is associated with a diminished ongoing pregnancy rate in oocyte donation cycles after artificial endometrial preparation: a prospective study.

Labarta E1, Mariani G1, Holtmann N2,3, Celada P1, Remohí J1, Bosch E1.

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Abstract

STUDY QUESTION:

Is there a relationship between serum progesterone (P) and endometrial volume on the day of embryo transfer (ET) with ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) in artificial endometrium preparation cycles?

SUMMARY ANSWER:

Patients with serum P < 9.2 ng/ml on the day of ET had a significantly lower OPR but endometrial volume was not related with OPR.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY:

A window of optimal serum P levels during the embryo implantation period has been described in artificial endometrium preparation cycles. A very low endometrial volume is related to poor reproductive outcome.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION:

Prospective cohort study with 244 patients who underwent ET in an oocyte donation cycle after an artificial endometrial preparation cycle with estradiol valerate and vaginal micronized progesterone (400 mg/12 h). The study period went from 22 February 2016 to 25 October 2016 (8 months). Sample size was calculated to detect a 20% difference in OPR (35-55%) between two groups according to serum P levels in a two-sided test (80% statistical power, 95% confidence interval (CI)).

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS:

Patients undergoing their first/second oocyte donation cycle, aged <50, BMI < 30 kg/m2, triple layer endometrium >6.5 mm and 1-2 good quality transferred blastocysts. A private infertility centre. Serum P determination and 3D ultrasound of uterine cavity were performed on the day of ET. Endometrial volume measurements were taken using a virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL™) system. The primary endpoint was OPR beyond pregnancy week 12.

MAIN RESULTS AND ROLE OF CHANCE:

About 211 of the 244 recruited patients fulfilled all the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Mean serum P on the day of embryo transfer was 12.7 ± 5.4 ng/ml (Centiles 25, 9.2; 50, 11.8; 75,15.8). OPRs according to serum P quartiles were: Q1: 32.7%; Q2: 49.1%; Q3: 58.5%; Q4: 50.9%. The OPR of Q1 was significantly lower than Q2-Q4: 32.7% versus 52.8%; P = 0.016; RR (95% CI): 0.62 (0.41-0.94). The mean endometrial volume was 3.4 ± 1.9 ml. Serum P on the day of ET did not correlate with endometrial volume. A logistic regression analysis, adjusted for all the potential confounders, showed that OPR significantly lowered between women with serum P < 9.2 ng/ml versus ≥9.2 ng/ml (OR: 0.297; 95%CI: 0.113-0.779); P = 0.013. The ROC curve showed a significant predictive value of serum P levels on the day of ET for OPR, with an AUC (95%CI) = 0.59 (0.51-0.67).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION:

Only the women with normal uterine cavity, appropriate endometrial thickness and good quality blastocysts transfer were included. Extrapolation to an unselected population or to other routes and/or doses of administering P needs to be validated. The role of endometrial volume could not be fully defined as very few patients presented a very low volume.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS:

The present study suggests a minimum threshold of serum P values on the day of ET that needs to be reached in artificial endometrial preparation cycles to optimize outcome. No upper threshold could be defined.