Abstract Study question What is the best progesterone administration for luteal phase support (LPS) in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle? Summary answer Different modes of hormonal luteal phase support do not affect clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) or live birth rate (LBR) in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. What is known already FET has increased substantially over the last years. To support implantation, endometrial and embryo maturities must be synchronized; therefore, endometrial and follicular maturation are monitored either within the artificial cycle. Estrogen and progesterone are sequentially administered. The optimal endometrial preparation strategy remains unclear; this study aims to compare the reproductive and pregnancy outcomes between five different regimens of hormonal LPS for FET treatment. Study design, size, duration Single centre retrospective cohort study conducted between 2013 and 2019. Included were women (N = 402) aged 18–45 years undergoing FET. After an optimal endometrial preparation and endometrial thickness, the LPS was started. Thereafter, five different progesterone applications were compared: (1) oral dydrogesterone (10mg tid), (2) vaginal progesterone gel (90mg/d), (3) dydrogesterone (10mg tid) plus vaginal progesterone gel (90mg/d), (4) vaginal progesterone capsules (200mg tid), or (5) subcutaneous injection of 25mg daily. Participants/materials, setting, methods An ultrasound was performed 14 days of estrogene ( > =4mg/d) preparation. If the endometrial thickness was ≥7 mm and there was no dominant follicle, luteal support commenced four days before FET. Fourteen days after transformation, a serum beta-hCG test was performed. If positive (> 50 IU/L), a transvaginal ultrasound was performed to confirm clinical pregnancy, defined as gestational sac with fetal heart movement. CPR was assessed and delivery reports for LBR were collected later. Main results and the role of chance In total, 402 patients on an artificial cycle were included (mean age, 35 years (y); range, 26–46 y; standard deviation, 4.1 y). No differences in endometrial thickness and cause of infertility were found between groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the CPR was significantly higher in the dydrogesterone only group (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.7–6.2; p < 0.001) and in the combined group (3) (OR, 7.55; 95% CI, 2.7–21.10; p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences in live birth rate could not be found between the five groups; they were 33%, 54%, 8.3%, 4%, 0% for groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively. Overall satisfaction and tolerability were significantly higher in oral dydrogesterone compared to the vaginal progesterone. Limitations, reasons for caution This is a retrospective single-center study. Also, potentially confounding variables like ethnicity, parity, BMI were not accounted for, possibly contributing to bias. Further prospective randomized studies are needed. Wider implications of the findings: Oral dydrogesterone was found to be effective with equal CPR and LBR. Benefit is well-tolerated and accepted among patients; however we did not observe significant differences in the rates of live birth between the five regimens for used for LPS in women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfers. Trial registration number BASEC Switzerland 2020–01527
Abstract To study the effect of very advanced maternal age on perinatal outcomes. A retrospective cohort study of women aged 45 years and above, who delivered ≥22 weeks of gestation in a single tertiary center between 1/ 2011 and 12/ 2018. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between women ≥50 years and women of 45–49 years at delivery. Of 83,661 parturients, 593 (0.7%) were 45–49 years old and 64 (0.07%) were ≥50 years old. Obstetrical characteristics were comparable, though the rate of chronic hypertension and preeclampsia with severe features were greater in women ≥50 years (6.2% vs 1.4%, p = 0.04, 15.6% vs 7.0%, p = 0.01, 95% CI 0.19–0.86, respectively). Elective cesarean deliveries were independently associated with advanced maternal age ≥50 (OR 2.63 95% CI 1.21–5.69). Neonatal outcomes were comparable for singletons, but rates of ventilatory support and composite severe neonatal outcomes were higher in twin pregnancies of women ≥50 years (42.8% vs 13.5%, p = 0.01, and 21.4% vs 4.0%, p = 0.03, respectively). Healthy women ≥50 have higher elective cesarean rates, despite similar maternal and neonatal characteristics.
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