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Moayed, M. E., Moini, A., Kashani, L., Mojtahedi, M. F., Rezaee, T., Tabasizadeh, H., Maajani, K., & Yamini, N. (2023). Pregnancy outcomes in women with adenomyosis, undergoing artificial endometrial preparation with and without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist pretreatment in frozen embryo transfer cycles: An RCT. International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM), 21(6), 481–490. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v21i6.13635

https://doi.org/10.18502/ijrm.v21i6.13635

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authors

  • Marzieh Eslami Moayed

    Marzieh Eslami Moayed

    Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Arash Women’s Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Ashraf Moini

    Ashraf Moini

    Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Arash Women’s Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Ladan Kashani

    Ladan Kashani

    Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Arash Women’s Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Maryam Farid Mojtahedi

    Maryam Farid Mojtahedi

    Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Arash Women’s Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Tawoos Rezaee

    Tawoos Rezaee

    Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Arash Women’s Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Hamed Tabasizadeh

    Hamed Tabasizadeh

    Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Research Development Unit, Bahar Hospital, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
  • Khadije Maajani

    Khadije Maajani

    Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  • Nazila Yamini

    Nazila Yamini

    Department of Embryology, Arash Women’s Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

Published Date

  • Jul 19, 2023

Pregnancy outcomes in women with adenomyosis, undergoing artificial endometrial preparation with and without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist pretreatment in frozen embryo transfer cycles: An RCT

International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM) / International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM): Volume 21, Issue No. 6 / Pages 481–490

Abstract

Background: Selecting a suitable and preferable method for endometrial preparation in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles for women with adenomyosis is still challenging in infertility treatment.


Objective: To compare 2 artificial endometrial preparation regimens with and without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) pretreatment in women with adenomyosis undergoing FET cycles.


Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 140 adenomyosis cases who underwent FET cycles at Arash Women’s hospital, Tehran, Iran from May 2020 to March 2021. Participants were randomly allocated into hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) and HRT+GnRHa pretreatment groups (n = 70/each). Endometrial preparation with 2-6 mg daily estradiol was started in the HRT+GnRHa group, taking after down-regulation with the GnRHa. Within the HRT group, the same dose of estradiol was commenced within the early follicular stage. The main (chemical and clinical pregnancy rates) and auxiliary results (twin pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth rates) were compared between groups.


Results: The demographic characteristics and severity of adenomyosis, endometrial thickness, and pattern at starting progesterone administration were similar in the 2 groups, and triple-line endometrium was found to be the dominant pattern in both groups (p = 0.65). No significant differences were observed in chemical, clinical, and twin pregnancy rates as well as miscarriage and live birth rates between groups (p = 0.71, p = 0.81, p = 0.11, and p = 0.84, respectively). However, the total estrogen dose and duration of estrogen consumption were significantly higher in the pretreatment group (p = 0.001, and p = 0.003).


Conclusion: These results indicated that the hormonal endometrial preparation with estrogen and progestin for FET cycles is as efficacious as a protocol involving preceding pituitary suppression with a GnRHa. Further large randomized clinical studies are required to confirm these findings.


Key words: Adenomyosis, Embryo transfer, Hormone replacement therapy, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

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