IVF/ICSI outcomes between cycles with luteal estradiol (E2) pre-treatment before GnRH antagonist protocol and standard long GnRH agonist protocol: a prospective and randomized study.

ObjectiveTo study if luteal E(2) pre-treatment before GnRH antagonist protocol improves IVF/ICSI outcomes compared with standard long GnRH agonist protocol.DesignA prospective, randomized and controlled study.SettingART center of a state public hospitalPatient(s)Two hundred twenty infertile women underwent IVF/ICSI treatments.Intervention(s)Participants received oral Estradiol Valerate 4 mg/day preceding the IVF cycle from day 21 until day 2 of next cycle before GnRH antagonist protocol (E(2) pre-treatment group n=109) or received standard long GnRH agonist protocol as control group (n=111).Main outcome measure(s)Number of oocytes collected, MII oocytes, fertilization, implantation, live birth and early pregnancy rate, and hormone profiles.Result(s)E(2) pre-treatment exerted a significant suppressive effect on FSH but not LH secretion compared with basal FSH and LH levels. In E(2) pre-treatment group serum LH level was significantly higher during COH and serum P was also significantly higher on the day of HCG injection compared with control group. Five patients from E(2) pre-treatment group had elevated LH at all time (>or= 10 IU/L) and also a concomitantly high P (>1 ng/mL). Two of the five women achieved pregnancy but had early pregnancy loss. Overall, IVF/ICSI outcomes such as implantation, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were similar between E(2) pre-treatment and control groups.Conclusion(s)Luteal E(2) pre-treatment before GnRH antagonist protocol significantly increases serum LH level and incidence rate of premature LH but no significant effect is observed on implantation, clinical pregnancy, live birth and early pregnancy loss rates compared with long GnRH agonist protocol. However, more studies in large numbers of cycles are needed to confirm that increased serum LH level by E(2) pre-treatment during COH has no negative effect on the IVF/ICSI outcomes.