Optimal Length of Progesterone Supplementation Before the Transfer of Cryopreserved (Frozen)-Thawed Day 3 Embryos in an Artificial Cycle With Exogenous Estrogen and Progesterone (PROFETA-3)

Cryopreserved-thawed embryos are often replaced in an artificial cycle, in which the endometrium is prepared by exogenous estrogen and progesterone with or without the use of GnRH agonist downregulation. The correct duration for exposure to progesterone is still not well established. To date, there are no prospective randomized trials available, comparing different durations of progesterone supplementation before the date of transfer, with regard to treatment outcome (Nawroth).

In this trial, the investigators want to determine the optimal duration of progesterone supplementation: 3 or 5 days before embryo transfer.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Progesterone Supplementation
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Progesterone

Detailed Description

The purpose is to transfer the embryo during the 'window of implantation', what is defined as the period during which the uterus is receptive for implantation of the free-lying blastocyst. This has been a subject of debate since many years (Bourgain et al, 2007).

Succesful implantation requires a co-ordinated series of events allowing a timely dialogue between a receptive endometrium and the intrusive blastocyst (Tabibzadeh, 1998). The period of receptivity is thought to be 3 days in human (Rogers et al, 1989; Yoshinaga, 1988; Psychoyos, 1993; Harper, 1992). It is suggested that blastocyst apposition begins about day LH+6 and is completed by day LH+10 (Lessey, 2000).

A number of structural and functional endometrial changes have been suggested to play a role in the implantation process: the formation of luminal epithelial pinopodes (Enders et al, 1973), expression of adhesion molecules and growth factors and cytokines (Lessey, 2000). Most of them are related directly or indirectly to progesterone secretion and influence on the endometrium.

In the Centre of Reproductive Medicine of the Brussels University Hospital, the investigators start progesterone supplementation 5 days before the transfer of a day 3 embryo. In order to mimic the natural cycle, since progesterone starts to rise 2 to 3 days before ovulation, due to the LH-stimulated production by the peripheral granulosa cells (Speroff). In fresh IVF-cycles, progesterone is started from the day of oocyte retrieval. HCG administration in fresh cycles will lead to an increase in progesterone levels and therefore, endometrium will progress quickly, compared with frozen-thawed cycles which are hormone supplemented (Nawroth).

In other centres, progesterone supplementation is generally started 3 days before the embryo transfer.

In this trial, the investigators want to determine the optimal duration of progesterone supplementation: 3 or 5 days before embryo transfer.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 300
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Brussels, Belgium, 1090
    • UZ Brussel

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: No older than 39 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Artificial cycles, in which a frozen-thawed day 3 embryo is replaced.
• Signed informed consent.
• Normal transvaginal ultrasound at screening, without evidence of clinically significant abnormality consistent with finding adequate for ART with respect to uterus and adnexa.
• Embryos must be frozen by vitrification technique (cfr supra).
• Single or dual embryo transfer.
• Recipients of oocyte donation cycles may be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known allergic reactions to progesterone products.
• Intake of experimental drug within 30 days prior to study start.
• Contraindication for pregnancy.
• Embryos of women above 39 years of age at the time of embryo freezing.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Progesterone; Group A receives 5 days of micronized progesterone vaginally (Utrogestan® ((Utrogestan, Besins International). On the 5th (group A) of progesterone supplementation, the cryopreserved-thawed day 3 embryo is transferred.	Drug: Progesterone; Procedures Transvaginal ultrasound (US) and hormone analysis for FSH, LH, E2 and P on day 2 of the cycle will be performed. The artificial preparation of the endometrium consists of 7 days oestradiol valerate (Progynova®, Bayer-Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany) 2 mg bid (bi-daily), followed by 6 days oestradiol valerate 2 mg tid (thrice daily). On day 13, the endometrium is measured. If endometrial thickness is more than 7 mm, patients are randomly assigned to group A or B. All patients with an endometrium less than 7 mm on day 13 of estrogen stimulation, are excluded. Group A receives 5 days of micronized progesterone vaginally (Utrogestan® ((Utrogestan, Besins International), 3x200mg daily), group B receives 3 days of micronized progesterone vaginally. On the 5th (group A) or 3rd (group B) day of progesterone supplementation, the cryopreserved-thawed day 3 embryo is transferred.; Other Names: oestradiol valerate (Progynova®, Bayer-Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany); progesterone (Utrogestan®, Besins International, France)
Active Comparator: progesterone 3 days; Group B receives 3 days of micronized progesterone vaginally. On the 3rd day of progesterone supplementation, the cryopreserved-thawed day 3 embryo is transferred.	Drug: Progesterone; Procedures Transvaginal ultrasound (US) and hormone analysis for FSH, LH, E2 and P on day 2 of the cycle will be performed. The artificial preparation of the endometrium consists of 7 days oestradiol valerate (Progynova®, Bayer-Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany) 2 mg bid (bi-daily), followed by 6 days oestradiol valerate 2 mg tid (thrice daily). On day 13, the endometrium is measured. If endometrial thickness is more than 7 mm, patients are randomly assigned to group A or B. All patients with an endometrium less than 7 mm on day 13 of estrogen stimulation, are excluded. Group A receives 5 days of micronized progesterone vaginally (Utrogestan® ((Utrogestan, Besins International), 3x200mg daily), group B receives 3 days of micronized progesterone vaginally. On the 5th (group A) or 3rd (group B) day of progesterone supplementation, the cryopreserved-thawed day 3 embryo is transferred.; Other Names: oestradiol valerate (Progynova®, Bayer-Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany); progesterone (Utrogestan®, Besins International, France)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
clinical pregnancy rate	7 weeks of pregnancy

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
live birth rate	9 months after embryo transfer

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• van de Vijver A, Polyzos NP, Van Landuyt L, Mackens S, Stoop D, Camus M, De Vos M, Tournaye H, Blockeel C. What is the optimal duration of progesterone administration before transferring a vitrified-warmed cleavage stage embryo? A randomized controlled trial. Hum Reprod. 2016 May;31(5):1097-104. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew045. Epub 2016 Mar 22.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 9, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 11, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): September 12, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 27, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 25, 2019
• Last Verified: September 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Estrogens; Progestins; Estradiol; Progesterone
• Other Study ID Numbers: PROFETA-3