The effect of LH rise during artificial frozen–thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles

• Main Authors: Samer Khoury, Einav Kadour-Peero, Ilan Calderon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bioscientifica 2021-09-01
• Series: Reproduction and Fertility
• Subjects: lh; clinical pregnancy; artificial; frozen embryo
• Online Access: https://raf.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/raf/2/3/RAF-21-0017.xml

Purpose: To evaluate the association between a rise in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels during artificial frozen– thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles and clinical pregnancy rate. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of women undergoing artificial FET cycles. We compared cycles in which LH double itself from the early follicular phase and further (group A) to cycles without a rise in LH (group B). Endometrium preparation was achieved by administration of 2 mg three times per day estradiol valerate tablets. Embryo transfer (ET) was conducted after achieving endometrial thickness > 7 mm and vaginal progesterone was added according to the embryo’s age. A beta-hCG was measured 13–14 days after ET. Clinical pregnancy was diagnosed on transvaginal ultrasound. Results: Data from 984-FET cycles were retrieved. LH, exogenous estradiol (E2), progesterone values, endometrial thickness, and pregnancy outcomes were available in all patients. From 984-FET cycles, 629 (63.9%) had a doubling, and 355 (36.07%) had no rise in LH. Patients mean age was 30 years, similar in both groups. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was calculated to assess the effect of LH rise and pregnancy outcomes, after adjusting for confounders including a rise in E2 level and endometrial thickness. In this model, there was no association between doubling LH values and pregnancy rates (adjusted odds ratio: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.75–1.5, P = 0.74). Conclusion: LH rise during artificial FET cycles does not alter pregnancy rates. Apparently, hormonal monitoring of LH levels may not yield useful information in the artificial FET cycle and may be omitted.