Research Article: Analysis of factors that increase serum progesterone levels on the day of hCG administration in gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist cycles
Abstract:
To explore the factors associated with elevated serum progesterone (P) levels on the day of hCG administration in patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-A) protocol.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 1392 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles performed between January 2018 and December 2023 at the Reproductive Medicine Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University. Patients were stratified into a normal progesterone group (NP group, serum P ? 1.5 ng/mL, n = 985 cycles) and a high progesterone group (HP group, serum P > 1.5 ng/mL, n = 407 cycles) according to the cutoff value of 1.5 ng/mL on hCG day. Clinical characteristics and endocrine parameters during ovarian stimulation were compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify independent factors related to elevated hCG-day progesterone levels.
The oocyte retrieval age, BMI, basal FSH (bFSH), and hCG-day serum LH levels were significantly higher in the NP group than in the HP group, whereas basal P (bP), antral follicle count, hCG-day serum E2, AMH, and total number of oocytes retrieved were significantly lower (all P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in basal LH, basal E2, initial Gn dose, total Gn duration, or total Gn dose between groups (all P > 0.05). Univariate logistic regression showed that oocyte retrieval age, BMI, bFSH, bP, AMH, antral follicle count, hCG-day serum LH and E2 levels, and total oocytes retrieved were significantly associated with hCG-day progesterone levels (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis further confirmed that BMI (OR = 0.901), bP (OR = 2.100), hCG-day serum E2 (OR = 1.225), hCG-day serum LH (OR = 1.048), and total oocytes retrieved (OR = 1.143) were independent influencing factors (all P < 0.05).
Basal progesterone, hCG-day serum E2 and LH levels, and total number of oocytes retrieved are independent risk factors for elevated progesterone levels on hCG day, whereas BMI serves as a protective factor.
Introduction:
Currently, assisted reproductive technology (ART) has become the most effective method to treat infertility. Controlled ovulation stimulation is a critical step of assisted reproductive technology. Compared with frozen embryo transfer (FET), fresh embryo transfer has lower adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, and FET is related to the degree of gestational hypertension ( 1 , 2 ). The relevant mechanism is still unclear and may be related to abnormal placental anatomy or…
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