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The combination of dydrogesterone and micronized vaginal progesterone can render serum progesterone level measurements on the day of embryo transfer and rescue attempts unnecessary in an HRT FET cycle

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the role of serum progesterone (P4) on the day of embryo transfer (ET) when dydrogesterone (DYD) and micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP) are combined as luteal phase support (LPS) in a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) frozen ET (FET) cycles.

Methods

Retrospective study, including single euploid HRT FET cycles with DYD and MVP as LPS and P4 measurement on ET day. Initially, patients with P4 levels < 10 ng/ml increased MVP to 400 mg/day; this “rescue” was abandoned later.

Results

560 cycles of 507 couples were included. In 275 women, serum P4 level was < 10 ng/ml on the ET day. Among those with low P4 levels, MVP dose remained unchanged in 65 women (11.6%) and was increased in 210 women (37.5%). Women with P4 levels ≥ 10 ng/ml continued LPS without modification. Overall pregnancy rates in these groups were 61.5% (40/65), 54.8% (115/210), and 48.4% (138/285), respectively (p = n.s.). Association of serum P4 levels with ongoing pregnancy rates was analyzed in women without any additional MVP regardless of serum P4 levels (n = 350); multivariable analysis (adjusted for age, BMI, embryo quality (EQ)) did not show a significant association of serum P4 levels with OPR (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.90–1.02; p = 0.185). Using inverse probability treatment weights, regression analysis in the weighted sample showed no significant association between P4 treatment groups and OP. Compared to fair EQ, the transfer of good EQ increased (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.22–2.15; p = 0.001) and the transfer of a poor EQ decreased the odds of OP (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55–0.97; p = 0.029).

Conclusion

In HRT FET cycle, using LPS with 300 mg/day MVP and 30 mg/day DYD, it appears that serum P4 measurement and increase of MVP in patients with P4 < 10 ng/ml are not necessary.

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Data availability

The data underlying this article are available in the article and in its online supplementary material.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ART Fertility Clinic, Royal Marina Village, B22-23, POB: 60202, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    B. Lawrenz, E. Kalafat, R. Del Gallego, L. Melado, I. Elkhatib & H. Fatemi

  2. Department of Reproductive Medicine, UZ Gent, Gent, Belgium

    B. Lawrenz

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey

    E. Kalafat & B. Ata

  4. School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

    I. Elkhatib

  5. ART Fertility Clinic, Jumeirah St-Umm Suqeim-Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai, UAE

    B. Ata & H. Fatemi

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Correspondence to B. Lawrenz.

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Lawrenz, B., Kalafat, E., Ata, B. et al. The combination of dydrogesterone and micronized vaginal progesterone can render serum progesterone level measurements on the day of embryo transfer and rescue attempts unnecessary in an HRT FET cycle. J Assist Reprod Genet 41, 885–892 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-024-03049-1

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