P-588 Serum Luteinizing Hormone levels before progesterone supplementation are significantly associated with live birth rate in single euploid frozen embryo transfers performed in hormonal replacement cycles
Authors: Marqueta L , Lawrenz B , Kalafat E , Del Gallego R , Ruiz F , Melado L , Elkhatib I , Fatemi H 
Published: July 2024

Study question

Do luteinizing hormone (LH) levels measured prior to initiating progesterone supplementation influence live birth rate (LBR) in artificial frozen-thawed single euploid blastocyst transfer cycles?

Summary answer

Serum LH levels, measured prior to progesterone initiation in artificial frozen-thawed single euploid blastocyst transfer cycles, are significantly associated with LBR.

What is known already

In the absence of a dominant follicle, estrogen supplementation in artificial endometrial preparation for frozen embryo transfer (FRET) can lead to a rise in endogenous LH levels, as observed in a natural cycle. Since the LH rise is a key feature in natural conception and the embryo, the endometrium, and the myometrium display receptors for LH, the rise observed during FRET preparation may have an impact on the clinical outcomes of the treatment. Previous studies found contradictory results hence none of them excluded embryo aneuploidy by implementation of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies and the transfer of euploid embryos.

Study design, size, duration

Retrospective analysis of 639 frozen-thawed single euploid blastocyst transfer cycles performed in a tertiary referral IVF center from January 2018 to August 2023. Cycles with hormonal pre-treatment or pituitary suppression were excluded.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Single euploid FRET cycles were included. Oral estradiol administration commenced on cycle-day 2/3. Estradiol, progesterone, and LH were measured at the start of endometrial preparation and up to 3 days before progesterone initiation, and the slope of LH was calculated. Patients were stratified in groups according to their LH values before progesterone administration, and the impact of LH on LBR and implantation rate was assessed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for potential confounders.

Main results and the role of chance

In total 639 cycles were included. Patients’ characteristics (mean+/-SD) were: age 33.2±5.9 years; BMI 27.5±4.9 kg/m2. The median duration of estrogen administration was 15 days (range: 11-27 days). The overall implantation rate and LBR were 65.9% (421/639) and 46.9% (300/639), respectively.

Patients were stratified into six groups according to their LH levels prior to progesterone supplementation: &lt;10th percentile (≤6mIU/ml, n = 57), p10th-p25th (&gt;6 to ≤ 8.5mIU/ml, n = 81), p25th-p50th (&gt;8.5 to ≤ 12.4mIU/ml, n = 176), p50th-p75th (&gt;12.4 to ≤ 18.1mIU/ml, n = 180), p75th-p90th (&gt;18.1 to ≤ 25.0mIU/ml, n = 91) and &gt;p90th (&gt;25.0mIU/ml, n = 54).

A significant trend for higher LBR with increasing serum LH levels was observed (Cochran-Armitage Test, P = 0.041) but not for implantation rate (P = 0.158). Those with higher basal serum estradiol levels before estrogen supplementation had a steeper LH increase from basal to progesterone-supplementation day (0.40 mIU/mL higher per 10pmol/L increase in basal estradiol, P = 0.027). Regression analysis identified as independent predictors of LBR BMI (OR 0.96, 95%CI: 0.93-0.99) and embryo quality (CC vs. AA p &lt; 0.001, CB vs. AA p = 0.027, BC vs. AA p = 0.013). Patients with steeper LH increases from estrogen to progesterone-supplementation day had higher LBR in both univariable (OR:1.27, 95%CI: 1.00–1.63, P = 0.052) and multivariable analyses (OR:1.26, 95%CI: 0.97–1.64, P = 0.085) but the difference didn’t reach statistical significance.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The retrospective design of the study is a limitation. Results should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of patients in the lowest and highest LH percentile groups.

Wider implications of the findings

The results of this study suggest that serum LH levels measured before progesterone supplementation may have an impact on the clinical outcome of artificial frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles. Further studies with a higher sample size are necessary to confirm or refute our findings.

Trial registration number

not applicable