» Articles » PMID: 34305815

Preparation of the Endometrium for Frozen Embryo Transfer: A Systematic Review

Overview
Specialty Endocrinology
Date 2021 Jul 26
PMID 34305815
Citations 31
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Despite the worldwide increase in frozen embryo transfer, the search for the best protocol to prime endometrium continues. Well-designed trials comparing various frozen embryo transfer protocols in terms of live birth rates, maternal, obstetric and neonatal outcome are urgently required. Currently, low-quality evidence indicates that, natural cycle, either true natural cycle or modified natural cycle, is superior to hormone replacement treatment protocol. Regarding warmed blastocyst transfer and frozen embryo transfer timing, the evidence suggests the 6 day of progesterone start, LH surge+6 day and hCG+7 day in hormone replacement treatment, true natural cycle and modified natural cycle protocols, respectively. Time corrections, due to inter-personal differences in the window of implantation or day of vitrification (day 5 or 6), should be explored further. Recently available evidence clearly indicates that, in hormone replacement treatment and natural cycles, there might be marked inter-personal variation in serum progesterone levels with an impact on reproductive outcomes, despite the use of the same dose and route of progesterone administration. The place of progesterone rescue protocols in patients with low serum progesterone levels one day prior to warmed blastocyst transfer in hormone replacement treatment and natural cycles is likely to be intensively explored in near future.

Citing Articles

Understanding the Associations of Urogenital Microbiomes With Fertility and In Vitro Fertilization.

Berard A, Brubaker D, Nemecio D, Farr Zuend C Am J Reprod Immunol. 2025; 93(2):e70035.

PMID: 39945201 PMC: 11822749. DOI: 10.1111/aji.70035.


Comparison of Individualized Rescue Luteal Phase Support Strategies with Vaginal and Combined Vaginal & Subcutaneous Progesterone Administration in Artificial Frozen-Thawed Blastocyst Embryo Transfer Cycles Based on Serum Progesterone levels.

Arik Alpcetin S, Ince O, Akcay B, Cevher Akdulum M, Demirdag E, Erdem A Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025; 15:1503008.

PMID: 39897956 PMC: 11782913. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1503008.


Improved clinical pregnancy rates in natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles with machine learning ovulation prediction: insights from a retrospective cohort study.

Luz A, Hourvitz A, Moran E, Itzhak N, Reuvenny S, Hourvitz R Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):29451.

PMID: 39604438 PMC: 11603157. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-80356-8.


Exogenous progesterone rescue in patients with low mid-luteal serum progesterone levels undergoing true natural vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer.

Erden M, Mumusoglu S, Ozbek I, Ince O, Esteves S, Humaidan P J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024; 42(1):221-229.

PMID: 39527238 PMC: 11805729. DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03309-0.


Serum progesterone measurement on the day of fresh embryo transfer and its correlation with pregnancy success rates: A prospective analysis.

Dias C, Furlan S, Ferriani R, Navarro P Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2024; 79():100511.

PMID: 39388739 PMC: 11736334. DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100511.


References
1.
Eftekhar M, Rahsepar M, Rahmani E . Effect of progesterone supplementation on natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Fertil Steril. 2014; 7(1):13-20. PMC: 3850330. View

2.
Asserhoj L, Spangmose A, Henningsen A, Clausen T, Ziebe S, Jensen R . Adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes in 1,136 singleton pregnancies conceived after programmed frozen embryo transfer (FET) compared with natural cycle FET. Fertil Steril. 2021; 115(4):947-956. DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.10.039. View

3.
Sher G, Fisch J . Vaginal sildenafil (Viagra): a preliminary report of a novel method to improve uterine artery blood flow and endometrial development in patients undergoing IVF. Hum Reprod. 2000; 15(4):806-9. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/15.4.806. View

4.
van de Vijver A, Polyzos N, Van Landuyt L, De Vos M, Camus M, Stoop D . Cryopreserved embryo transfer in an artificial cycle: is GnRH agonist down-regulation necessary?. Reprod Biomed Online. 2014; 29(5):588-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2014.08.005. View

5.
Navot D, Laufer N, Kopolovic J, Rabinowitz R, Birkenfeld A, Lewin A . Artificially induced endometrial cycles and establishment of pregnancies in the absence of ovaries. N Engl J Med. 1986; 314(13):806-11. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM198603273141302. View