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Elevated progesterone and its impact on birth weight after fresh embryo transfers

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine the association between serum progesterone levels on the day of hCG administration and birth weight among singleton live births after fresh embryo transfer.

Methods

This study was conducted as a retrospective cohort database analysis on patients who underwent IVF treatment cycles from January 2004 to April 2012. The study was performed at a University affiliated private infertility practice. All cycles that had achieved a singleton live birth after fresh embryo transfer and for which progesterone was measured on the day of hCG administration were examined. Generalized linear models were used to calculate mean birth weight and z-scores.

Results

We analyzed 817 fresh IVF embryo transfers in which birth weight, gestational age, and progesterone (ng/mL) level on day of hCG administration were documented. While there was a decrease in birth weight as progesterone quartile [≤0.54; >0.54 to ≤0.81; >0.81 to ≤1.17; >1.17 ng/mL] increased, the difference in mean birth weights among the four quartiles was not statistically significant (p = 0.11) after adjusting for maternal age and peak estradiol levels. When dichotomizing based on a serum progesterone considered clinically elevated, cycles with progesterone >2.0 ng/mL had a significantly lower mean singleton birth weight (2860 g (95% CI 2642 g, 3079 g)) compared to cycles with progesterone ≤2.0 ng/mL (3167 g (95% CI 3122 g, 3211 g) p = 0.007)) after adjusting for maternal age and estradiol.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that caution should be exercised when performing fresh embryo transfers with elevated progesterone levels and in particular with levels (>2.0 ng/mL) as this may lead to lower birth weight.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Yetunde Ibrahim

    Present address: Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine, 675 Arapeen Drive, Suite 205, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave. KS 3, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Yetunde Ibrahim, Miriam J. Haviland, Michele R. Hacker, Alan S. Penzias & Kim L. Thornton

  2. Boston IVF, 130 Second Ave, Waltham, MA, 02451, USA

    Alan S. Penzias, Kim L. Thornton & Denny Sakkas

Authors
  1. Yetunde Ibrahim
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  2. Miriam J. Haviland
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  3. Michele R. Hacker
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  4. Alan S. Penzias
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  5. Kim L. Thornton
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  6. Denny Sakkas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Denny Sakkas.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Ibrahim, Y., Haviland, M.J., Hacker, M.R. et al. Elevated progesterone and its impact on birth weight after fresh embryo transfers. J Assist Reprod Genet 34, 759–764 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-0920-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-0920-8

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