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Relationship among serum levels of luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and progesterone during follicle stimulation and results of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET)

  • Clinical Assisted Reproduction
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Abstract

Eighty-eight IVF-ET cycles were classified into four groups according to the results of IVF-ET (Group A—conceptional cycles, 10 cycles; Group B—cycles with cleaved oocytes, 58 cycles; Group C—cycles with fertilized oocytes, 9 cycles; Group D—cycles without fertilization, 11 cycles). Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E 2 ), and progesterone (P) levels during follicle stimulation were studied in these groups. Patients participated in our IVF-ET program due to irreparable tubal damage. Follicle development was stimulated with a clomiphene—human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG)—human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) regimen. Group C showed a low E 2 response to follicle stimulation. Groups B and D showed significantly higher serum P levels on day 0 (the day of hCG injection) than Group A (Group A, 0.73 ± 0.11, vs Groups B and D, 1.43 ± 0.15 and 2.17 ± 0.42 ng/ml; P <0.01). The effects of serum P and LH levels on the fertilization and pregnancy rates were studied. The pregnancy rate was not affected by the serum LH level but was only 2.7% in cycles in which serum P was 1.2 ng/ml on day 0, which was significantly lower than that in cycles in which serum P was <1.2 ng/ml on day 0 (19.1%) (P <0.05). The fertilization rate was significantly lower in the cycles with higher levels of serum P and/or LH than in cycles in which serum P was <1.2 ng/ml and serum LH was normal (50.5 vs 78.8%; P <0.01). These findings suggest that the serum P level, but not the LH level, during follicle stimulation is closely related to the achievement of pregnancy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tokushima, School of Medicine, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, Japan

    Toshiaki Kagawa, Shuji Yamano, Souya Nishida, Shinji Murayama & Toshihiro Aono

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  1. Toshiaki Kagawa
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  2. Shuji Yamano
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  3. Souya Nishida
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  4. Shinji Murayama
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  5. Toshihiro Aono
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Kagawa, T., Yamano, S., Nishida, S. et al. Relationship among serum levels of luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and progesterone during follicle stimulation and results of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). J Assist Reprod Genet 9, 106–112 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01203748

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01203748

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