The predictive value and the management of cycles with low initial estradiol levels

This study was undertaken to examine the predictive value of low estradiol (E2) after 5 days of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) stimulation response to therapy in that cycle. We further examined whether the outcome of such cycles can be improved by increasing the hMG dose. When 18 cycles in which day 8 E2 was less than or equal to 50 pg/mL were compared with 48 cycles with corresponding E2 levels of 51 to 150 pg/mL, the former showed a significantly worse response to subsequent hMG therapy. To determine the effect of an increase in hMG dose we studied 48 cycles with day 8 E2 of 51 to 150 pg/mL. In 32 cycles hMG dose was increased from three to a mean of five ampules a day, after 5 days of therapy. In 16 cycles it was kept constant at three ampules per day. Although a tendency towards lower fertilization rate was observed in the higher hMG groups, no significant differences were observed in the results between the two groups. We thus conclude that very low E2 levels after 5 days of gonadotropin therapy are predictive of low response in that cycle, and that in cycles with day 8 E2 of 51 to 150 pg/mL, increasing the dosage of hMG on day 8 and beyond does not alter the course of the cycle.