The effects of E-2 supplementation from the early proliferative phase to the late secretory phase of the endometrium in hMG-stimulated IVF-ET

Purpose: Our purpose was to determine if pregnancy rates (PRs) for hMG (hum an menopausal gonadotropin)-stimulated IVF-ET tin vitro fertilization-embry o transfer can be increased by estradiol (E-2) supplementation from the ear ly proliferative phase to the late secretory phase of the endometrium. Method: Eighty-one infertile women with pure tubal factor were randomized i nto two groups. One group received no E-2 Supplementation (control group) a nd the other received oral E-2 supplementation (2 mg two times daily) from the early proliferative phase starting on the third day of the menstrual cy cle to the late secretory phase of the endometrium, with hMG stimulation fo r ovulation induction starting on the sixth day of the menstrual cycle. Results: In 85 cycles, at least one embryo was transferred. Compared with t he control group (n = 27 cycles), the E-2 supplementation group (n = 58 cyc les) had a significantly higher PR (control, 25.9%, versus E-2 supplementat ion, 48.3%) and IR per ET(control, 10%, versus E-2 supplementation, 26%), b ut FRs per retrieved oocytes were not statistically different between the t wo groups(control, 74%, versus E-2 supplementation group, 73%). Four sponta neous abortions occurred in the E-2 supplementation group, and one case in the control group. Ectopic pregnancy occurred in one case in the control gr oup. Conclusions: Clinical PRs and IRs in the E-2 supplementation group were sig nificantly higher than in the control group, while FRs in the control group did not differ statistically from the E-2 supplementation group. This sugg ests that E-2 supplementation from the early proliferative phase to the lat e secretory phase of the the endometrium in hMG-stimulated IVF-ET increases the receptivity of the endometrium for transferred embryos and clinical PR s.