The role of progesterone elevation in IVF

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• In-Vitro Fertilization
• Embryology

Background:

• Progesterone elevation in the late follicular phase of stimulated IVF cycles is common.
• This hormonal increase is linked to reduced endometrial receptivity and poorer IVF outcomes.
• Current clinical practice often involves elective cryopreservation of embryos in such cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of elevated progesterone on IVF outcomes.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of elective cryopreservation in mitigating negative effects.
• To explore how progesterone affects endometrial receptivity, embryo quality, and implantation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of IVF cycle data with a focus on progesterone levels.
• Comparison of pregnancy outcomes between cycles with and without progesterone elevation.
• Assessment of embryo quality and implantation rates in relation to progesterone levels.
• Evaluation of outcomes following elective cryopreservation and frozen embryo transfer.

Main Results:

• Late-follicular progesterone elevation is associated with diminished endometrial receptivity.
• Elective cryopreservation may not fully restore pregnancy outcomes compromised by progesterone increase.
• Progesterone elevation appears to negatively influence both implantation and embryo quality.

Conclusions:

• Elevated progesterone during stimulated IVF cycles poses a significant challenge to successful implantation and pregnancy.
• The negative impact of progesterone extends beyond endometrial receptivity to affect embryo quality.
• While elective cryopreservation is a common strategy, it may not completely overcome the adverse effects of progesterone elevation on IVF success.