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Cumulative exposure to high estradiol levels during the follicular phase of IVF cycles negatively affects implantation

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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of the cumulative exposure to estradiol (E2) during the follicular phase on IVF outcome.

Methods: Patients were stimulated with recombinant FSH after GnRH agonist suppression and had a day 3-embryo transfer. Estrogen exposure was determined as the area under the curve (AUC) for serum E2 levels measured from the first day of stimulation through the day after hCG administration.

Results: E2 AUC thresholds for 10th and 90th percentiles were 4704 pg/ml and 16338 pg/ml, respectively. The pregnancy and implantation rates were highest in the 10th–90th percentile group, and were statistically higher in this group than in the >90th percentile group (54.6% vs. 33.3% and 24.8% and 12.9%, respectively, for pregnancy and implantation rates, P < 0.05). Recovered mature oocytes, fertilization, and number and mean score of transferred embryos were similar.

Conclusions: High cumulative E2 exposure during the follicular phase of IVF cycles has detrimental effects on implantation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 601 Colley Avenue, Norfolk, VA, 23507, USA

    Murat Arslan, Silvina Bocca, Ebru Ozturk Arslan, Hakan E. Duran, Laurel Stadtmauer & Sergio Oehninger

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey

    Murat Arslan

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  1. Murat Arslan
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  2. Silvina Bocca
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  3. Ebru Ozturk Arslan
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  5. Laurel Stadtmauer
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  6. Sergio Oehninger
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Correspondence to Sergio Oehninger.

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Arslan, M., Bocca, S., Arslan, E.O. et al. Cumulative exposure to high estradiol levels during the follicular phase of IVF cycles negatively affects implantation. J Assist Reprod Genet 24, 111–117 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-006-9101-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-006-9101-x

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