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HCG administration after endogenous LH rise negatively influences pregnancy rate in modified natural cycle for frozen–thawed euploid blastocyst transfer: a pilot study

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether in a modified natural cycle (modified-NC) for a frozen-thawed single euploid blastocyst transfer, a critical LH value, above which human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration should be avoided, may be defined.

Methods

One hundred and sixty-seven patients underwent modified natural cycle in order to transfer a single frozen-thawed euploid blastocyst. All embryos were obtained by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and were biopsied at the blastocyst stage and analyzed by means of array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Ovulation was induced using 10.000 IU hCG when the mean follicle diameter was at least of 17 mm, independently from LH values. The primary end points were the hCG-positive test and clinical pregnancy. The interim analysis showed that LH value ≥ 13 mIU/ml on the day of hCG injection may negatively influence the clinical results, suggesting that in this condition, it should be advisable waiting for spontaneous ovulation.

Results

Among patients who received hCG for ovulation induction, the hCG-positive test and clinical pregnancy rates in modified-NC were significantly lower in cycles with LH ≥ 13 mIU/ml in respect to those with LH < 13 mIU/ml (45.4 vs 73.3 and 36.4 vs 65.9%, in LH ≥ 13 and LH < 13 groups, respectively). In patients with LH value ≥ 13 mIU/ml, hCG administration led to significantly lower rates of hCG-positive test (45.4 vs 74.5% in hCG administration and spontaneous ovulation groups, respectively) and clinical pregnancy (36.4 vs 64.7% in hCG administration and spontaneous ovulation groups, respectively). The baseline patient characteristics were comparable in all groups.

Conclusions

The findings of this study highlight that LH elevation ≥ 13 mIU/ml prior to hCG administration may negatively affect clinical pregnancy rates in modified-NC for single euploid blastocyst transfer. The LH determination should be routinely performed during follicular monitoring. In the presence of LH level ≥ 13 mIU/ml, hCG administration should be avoided, and the embryo transfer should be planned only after spontaneous follicular rupture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre For Reproductive Medicine, European Hospital, Via Portuense 700, 00149, Rome, Italy

    Katarzyna Litwicka, Cecilia Mencacci, Cristiana Arrivi, Maria Teresa Varricchio, Alina Caragia, Maria Giulia Minasi & Ermanno Greco

Authors
  1. Katarzyna Litwicka
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  2. Cecilia Mencacci
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  3. Cristiana Arrivi
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  4. Maria Teresa Varricchio
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  5. Alina Caragia
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  6. Maria Giulia Minasi
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  7. Ermanno Greco
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katarzyna Litwicka.

Ethics declarations

The Institutional Review Boards of European Hospital and Genoma Laboratory approved the study before initiation. All participants gave written consent after having been informed on all the aspects of the study. All the clinical and biological procedures were conducted at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of European Hospital, Rome (Italy), whereas the genetic screenings were performed at the Genoma Laboratory, Rome (Italy). All procedures were performed according to the Helsinki Declaration of 1975 and its further modifications.

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Litwicka, K., Mencacci, C., Arrivi, C. et al. HCG administration after endogenous LH rise negatively influences pregnancy rate in modified natural cycle for frozen–thawed euploid blastocyst transfer: a pilot study. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 449–455 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-1089-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-1089-x

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