Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 46, Issue 1 , Pages 54-59, March 2007

High Serum Estradiol Levels are not Detrimental to In Vitro Fertilization Outcome

  • Cheng-Hsuan Wu

      Affiliations

    • Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Tainan, Taiwan
    • Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chang Jung University, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tsung-Cheng Kuo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hsin-Hung Wu

      Affiliations

    • Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Tainan, Taiwan
    • Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chang Jung University, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Guang-Peng Yeh

      Affiliations

    • Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Tainan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Horng-Der Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Tainan, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Horng-Der Tsai, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135, Nanhsiao Street, Changhua 500, Taiwan

Accepted 26 September 2006.

Article Outline

Summary 

Objective

To evaluate the impact of high estradiol (E2) levels and a high number of retrieved oocytes on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 274 IVF cycles. These patients were divided into five groups according to their peak E2 levels on the human chorionic gonadotropin day: ≤ 2,000 pg/mL (130 cycles); 2,001–3,000 pg/mL (53 cycles); 3,001–4,000 pg/mL (46 cycles); 4,001–5,000 pg/mL (29 cycles); > 5,000 pg/mL (16 cycles). Fertilization, pregnancy, and implantation rates were analyzed between these groups. We also compared the outcome of IVF for high responders (> 15 retrieved oocytes) and normal responders (≤ 15 retrieved oocytes).

Results

The oocyte fertilization and embryo cleavage rates were not significantly different among these five groups. Although decrease in pregnancy and implantation rates was observed when E2 levels were > 5,000 pg/mL compared with those having lower E2 levels, there were no statistically significant differences between these five groups. In addition, similar IVF outcome was detected for those cycles with > 15 oocytes and ≤ 15 oocytes obtained.

Conclusion

High serum E2 levels and high oocyte yield are not detrimental to IVF outcome. More studies are needed to characterize the threshold E2 levels above which implantation rates are reduced.

Key Words:  estradiol , IVF , pregnancy rate

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PII: S1028-4559(08)60108-4

doi:10.1016/S1028-4559(08)60108-4

Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 46, Issue 1 , Pages 54-59, March 2007

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