Objective: To evaluate role of serum estradiol levels in predicting likelihood of pregnancy in women undergoing GnRH-a protocol in IVF-ET cycles.
Design: A 3-year retrospective analysis of estradiol levels on down-regulated day 2, day 6, and day of hCG trigger and subsequent clinical pregnancy rates.
Setting: A university hospital tertiary referral centre.
Population or sample: Women undergoing IVF treatment.
Methods: Hormonal assessment on the down-regulated day 2, day 6, and day of hCG trigger.
Main outcome measures: Comparison of hormonal profile, antral follicular count on day 2, endometrial thickness on day of trigger, and number of oocytes retrieved between pregnant and the non-pregnant group. The prediction of IVF success was based on the quantitative levels of estradiol on a specific day in down-regulated cycle.
Results: The overall pregnancy rate was 32.25 % (50/160). Estradiol level on down-regulated day 2 was 31.9 ± 12.6 and on the day of trigger was 1,996.46 ± 1,252.36 in pregnant women, which was significantly higher as compared to estradiol levels in non-pregnant women (27.6 ± 12.3 and 1,525.1 ± 1,116.42, respectively). It was found to be a significant prognostic marker for successful IVF treatment. Estradiol levels on down-regulated day 6 were found to be non-significant between the two groups.
Conclusions: Estradiol level on down-regulated day 2 of menstrual cycle and on the day of trigger was found to have a significant impact on the success of IVF-ET.
Keywords: Day 2; Day 6; Day of hCG trigger; Estradiol; IVF outcome.