Programming in vitro fertilization retrievals during working days after a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol with estrogen pretreatment: does the length of exposure to estradiol impact on controlled ovarian hyperstimulation outcomes?

Cycle scheduling for in vitro fertilization with oral contraceptive pills versus oral estradiol valerate: a randomized, controlled trial

“…Earlier studies demonstrated that E 2 pretreatment can also be used for optimal cycle scheduling by reducing weekend retrievals [18,24]. Moreover, extending E 2 pretreatment beyond the menses has no deleterious effect on COH outcomes [24]. Our results are in line with these findings, as the proportion of oocyte retrievals performed on weekend days was significantly reduced using either method (Figure 2).…”

“…Although the length of steroid exposure varied considerably both within each pretreatment group and between the two groups, previous studies have shown that the number of pretreatment days – at least within the range of days used in our study – has no impact on COH outcomes in cycles pretreated with either E 2 [24] or OCPs [25]. There is, however, considerable difference between OCPs in terms of their suppressive effect, depending on their progestin component [26].…”

“…However, as shown by Tremellen and Lane [30], a 1-day advancement or delay of hCG administration does not adversely impact IVF live birth outcomes. Earlier studies demonstrated that E 2 pretreatment can also be used for optimal cycle scheduling by reducing weekend retrievals [18,24]. Moreover, extending E 2 pretreatment beyond the menses has no deleterious effect on COH outcomes [24].…”

“…In patients allocated to the E 2 arm of the study ( n  = 50), pretreatment with E 2 valerate (Meriestra; Novartis Farmacéutica, Barcelona, Spain) was started on day 20 of the cycle preceding the IVF/ICSI cycle at a daily dose of 4 mg (2 mg twice a day) orally for 5–12 days, until the day before the initiation of ovarian stimulation, independent of the specific day of onset of menstruation, as it has been shown that the number of days by which E 2 pretreatment is extended beyond the menses does not have a significant effect on cycle outcome [24]. …”

Pretreatment with estrogen does not affect IVF-ICSI cycle outcome compared with no pretreatment in GnRH antagonist protocol: a prospective randomized trial

“…Similarly, a slight but significant decrease in serum LH levels was observed in the present study after discontinuation of estrogen pretreatment. It was shown that these residual LH levels increased with the length of exposure to estrogen pretreatment after the occurrence of menses but were not significantly correlated with cycle outcome (24). On the other hand, an increased incidence of premature LH rise before the introduction of GnRH antagonist could impair outcome of cycles programmed by estrogen pre-treatment (15).…”