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Serum Progesterone Before and After Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Injection Depends on the Estradiol Response to Ovarian Hyperstimulation During In Vitro Fertilization–Embryo Transfer Cycles

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Abstract

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess if periovulatory serum progesterone is reflective of ovarian responsiveness in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).

Methods: One-hundred forty-two in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer cycles in women using GnRH-a suppression and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) stimulation were evaluated. Responses were studied according to ovarian response to hMG and age. Outcome measures included peak serum estradiol, serum progesterone and estrogen/progesterone ratios on the day of hCG injection, number of harvested oocytes, fertilization rates, and delivered pregnancy rates.

Results: A periovulatory rise in serum progesterone (>0.9 ng/ml) occurred only among younger women (<40 years old) with a good response (P<0.05). Though the number of oocytes was greater in good responders, fertilization and pregnancy rates were similar among all women regardless of age and ovarian response.

Conclusions: Periovulatory levels of serum progesterone vary according to ovarian response to COH. Elevations in progesterone do not appear to be a manifestation of poor responders. Reduced periovulatory progesterone may reflect inadequate steroidogenesis.

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Lindheim, S.R., Cohen, M.A., Chang, P.L. et al. Serum Progesterone Before and After Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Injection Depends on the Estradiol Response to Ovarian Hyperstimulation During In Vitro Fertilization–Embryo Transfer Cycles. J Assist Reprod Genet 16, 242–246 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020311328182

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020311328182

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