What is the optimal duration of progesterone administration before transferring a vitrified-warmed cleavage stage embryo? a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Study question What is the impact on clinical pregnancy rates when vitrified cleavage stage Day 3 embryos, warmed and cultured overnight to Day 4, are transferred on the 3rd or 5th day of progesterone administration in an artificial cycle? Summary answer Clinical pregnancy rates are similar when transferring a vitrified-warmed cleavage stage Day 3 embryo after overnight culture on the 3rd or 5th day of progesterone administration. What is known already In artificially prepared cycles, progesterone supplementation is generally started 3 days before embryo transfer, although the optimal length of exposure to progesterone before frozen embryo transfer (FET) has not been established. However, in a natural cycle, serum progesterone levels start to rise before ovulation, due to the LH-stimulated production by the peripheral granulosa cells. Hence, it could be postulated that progesterone supplementation before embryo transfer in an artificial cycle should start earlier or even later. Study design, size, duration Prospective, randomized controlled trial, encompassing 300 patients who had embryos frozen on Day 3 and who underwent FET in an artificial cycle. Between 1 November 2012 and 31 December 2014, 300 patients were allocated to one of two groups as soon as endometrial thickness reached ≥7 mm on ultrasound after estrogen supplementation. A computer-generated randomization list was used, not concealed to the physicians. Each patient was enrolled into the study only once. FET was p…
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Embryonic-endometrial synchrony is attained when blastocyst-stage embryos are transferred on days 5-7 of progesterone administration.
“randomized control trials have shown that embryonic endometrial synchrony is attained when transferring cleavage-stage embryos on days 3-5 (8) and blastocyst-stage embryos on days 5-7 of progesterone administration (8,9).”
From Endometrial receptivity in adenomyosis and/or endometriosis (2023) · cites this paper as [8]
Embryonic-endometrial synchrony is attained when cleavage-stage embryos are transferred on days 3-5 of progesterone administration.
“randomized control trials have shown that embryonic endometrial synchrony is attained when transferring cleavage-stage embryos on days 3-5 (8) and blastocyst-stage embryos on days 5-7 of progesterone administration (8,9).”
From Endometrial receptivity in adenomyosis and/or endometriosis (2023) · cites this paper as [8]
Recent prospective data from frozen embryo transfers show that the window of endometrial receptivity is broad, contrary to earlier reports.
“Recent prospective data using transfers of frozen embryos indicate that the WOR is rather broad, contrary to prior reports.”
From Endometrial receptivity in adenomyosis and/or endometriosis (2023) · cites this paper as [8]
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- Authors
- van de Vijver, A., Polyzos, N. P., Van Landuyt, L., Mackens, S., Stoop, D., Camus, M., De Vos, M., Tournaye, H., & Blockeel, C.
- Affiliations
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Blockeel, C.
- Venue
- Human Reproduction
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2016-03-22
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1097-1104
- ISSN
- 0268-1161 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2350
- OpenAlex
- W2308609916
- Cited by
- 66
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 4.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Human Reproduction (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Keywords
- progesterone supplementation, frozen embryo transfer, artificial cycle, vaginal micronized progesterone, embryo transfer timing, clinical pregnancy rate, endometrial thickness, endometrial receptivity, embryo culture duration, assisted reproduction outcomes, endometrial receptivity array
- MeSH terms
- Abortion, Spontaneous, Administration, Intravaginal, Adult, Embryo Transfer, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Progesterone, Time Factors, Cryopreservation, Pregnancy Rate, Vitrification
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