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Objective:To explore the factors affecting the pregnancy outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in endometriosis (EMT) patients in order to provide reference for the clinical selection of FET strategies. Methods:A total of 329 EMT patients who received blastocyst FET at the Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force, PLA, from Jan. 2015 to Dec. 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into three groups according to endometrial preparation protocols, ages, and endometrial thickness on the day of progesterone conversion, respectively. By endometrial preparation protocols, the three groups included gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) down-regulation+ hormone replacement therapy (HRT) group (GnRH-a+HRT group, A1 group, n=138), HRT group (B1 group, n=52), and natural cycle (NC) group (C1 group, n=139). By ages, the three groups included 35 years old group (C2 group, n=59). By endometrial thickness on the day of progesterone conversion, the three groups included 12 mm group (C3 group, n=37). The differences in pregnancy outcomes among EMT patients with blastocyst FET were compared under different grouping factors. Results:The endometrium of A1 group was significantly thicker than that of B1 group (P=0.041), the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate of B1 group were significantly higher than those of C1 group (P=0.000, P=0.003). Compared with A1 group, the implantation rate of B1 group was significantly higher (P=0.023), while it was significantly lower in group C1 (P=0.027). The abortion rate of A2 group was significantly higher than that of B2 group (P=0.007). Compared with A3 group, the implantation rate of B3 group was significantly higher (P=0.041), while it was significantly lower in C3 group (P=0.026). Conclusion:HRT endometrial preparation protocol for EMT patients with blastocyst FET can improve the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate, and reduce the abortion rate and ectopic pregnancy rate, which may be an economical and efficient endometrial preparation protocol in clinical.
ABSTRACT
Objective Clinical efficacy was compared among single injections of different doses of long acting gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a),and daily injections of short-acting GnRH-a in order to evaluate different methods of ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.Methods A retrospective study of 214 patients who underwent IVF assisted fertility treatments was conducted.Patients were allocated into four study groups:the short protocol (group A),in which daily injections of 0.1 mg GnRH-a was administered in the mid-luteal phase until the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration (see below);or the long protocol (group B,C & D),in which single injections of 3.75mg,2.0mg,or 0.9mg of long-acting GnRH-a was given in the mid-luteal phase,respectively.Stimulation with gonadotropins (Gn) started when pituitary down-regulation was established.When vaginal ultrasonographic scans showed that at least two follicles had reached 16-20mm in diameter,Gn stimulation was withdrawn,and serum estradiol (E2),progesterone (P),and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined.Additionally,human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered that evening.Egg collection was performed 38 hours after hCG injection and the standard IVF procedure was performed.Results There were no statistically significant differences amongst the four groups when measuring serum LH levels,number of oocytes,number of fertilized eggs,number of good quality embryos,and clinical pregnancy rate.The total amount of Gn administered was almost identical when comparing group A and group D,as well as when comparing group B and group C.However,Group A and D required less Gn stimulation to exhibit follicles of 16-20mm in diameter,compared to group B and C (P ＜0.005).Moreover,there was a significant difference in the time required for ovulation induction between group A and group C,where group A had a shorter time to ovulation.The fertilization rate was statistically different between group B and other groups (P ＜ 0.005).Conclusion Through our data analysis,we conclude based on outcome,cost,side-effects,and simplification of treatments,that the 0.9mg long-acting GnRH-a treatment is eminent for ovarian stimulation for IVF.
ABSTRACT
[Objective]To compare the clinical outcomes of fresh embryo transfer of the in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer(IVF/ICSI-ET)in different age groups as well as in different responders using gonadotropin-re-leasing hormone agonist(GnRH-a)long protocol or GnRH antagonist(GnRH-ant)protocol.[Methods]A retrospective analysis was performed on 737 IVF/ICSI cycles,including 386 cycles of GnRH-a long protocol(group A)and 351 cycles of GnRH-ant protocol (group B),from August 28,2015 to December 31,2016. Then all the cycles were divided into sub-groups by ages and retrieved oo-cyte numbers:group a1(15). The basic information of patients and clinical outcomes were compared.[Results](1)Comparable results were obtained from group A and group B in these following variables such as fertilization rate,normal fertilization rate,biochemical pregnancy rate and miscarriage rage. But the stimulation period,the total gonadotropin(Gn)dosage,estradiol(E2)level and endometrial thickness on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG)administration,number of oocytes retrieved and mature oocytes,ovarian hyperstimulation syn-drome(OHSS)rate,implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were significantly higher in group A than group B(P<0.05),and significantly higher cancellation rate of fresh embryo transfer was observed in group B(P<0.001).(2)When divided by ages,no mat-ter in sub-group a1 or sub-group a2,the implantation rate was slightly lower in GnRH-ant protocol than in GnRH-a long protocol, although they failed to reach significant difference(sub-group a1:32.6%vs 39.8%,P=0.067;sub-group a2:9.7%vs 17.9%,P=0.066). The clinical pregnancy rate was comparable using these two protocols in sub-group a1(54.8%vs 50.4%,P=0.429),but it was significantly lower by using GnRH-ant protocol than GnRH-a long protocol in sub-group a2(19.6%vs 39.1%,P=0.021).(3) When divided by numbers of oocytes retrieved,the implantation rate was significantly lower when using GnRH-ant protocol in sub-group b1(13.1%vs 26.0%,P=0.026),but we failed to observe significant differences in other two sub-groups. The clinical preg-nancy rates were comparable in all sub-groups ,whereas differed considerably in sub-group b1 (36.6% vs 19.3%,P = 0.056).[Conclusion]Overall,the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were higher in GnRH-a long protocol than those in GnRH-ant protocol. Nevertheless,GnRH-ant protocol could reduce the dosage of Gn,shorten the treatment duration,and effectively reduce the occurrence of OHSS. There were similar pregnancy outcomes in two protocols for normal responders and high responders ,while for advanced patients or other poor responders,the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were higher in GnRH-a protocol.