An insight into early reproductive processes through the in vivo model of ovum donation.
Publication/Presentation Date
2-1-1991
Abstract
To gain insight into early reproductive processes we have prospectively designed ovum donation protocols to elucidate several phenomena relating to embryo implantation and pregnancy sustenance. Artificial endometrial cycles with variable follicular phases were induced in 60 recipients by sequential estrogen and progesterone. A total of 964 oocytes were retrieved throughout 43 ovum donation attempts, for an average of 22.4 (range, 16-41) eggs/retrieval. The overall delivery rate per egg retrieval (donors and recipients combined) was 72.1% (31 of 43). The shortest estrogen stimulation (short follicular phase) resulting in ongoing pregnancies was 5 days in duration, while the longest (long follicular phase) was 35 days in duration before progesterone initiation. Utilization of variable length follicular phases, artificially extended the stage of endometrial receptivity to over 4 weeks. To assess the window of implantation, same age embryos were transferred onto endometrium of different maturational stages. Pregnancies were documented with embryo transfers between luteal day 1 (day 15) to luteal day 6 (day 20), extending the window of implantation in the human to at least 6 consecutive days. To evaluate the relative contribution of oocyte quality and endometrial receptivity to pregnancy outcome, common source ova were transferred onto endometrium with variable hormonal exposure. Despite the drastically different follicular phase estradiol levels and periods of exposure, similar delivery rates were attained in donor cycles (29.4%) and recipient cycles during short follicular phases (29.6%). Slightly higher delivery rates (39.4%) were observed with long follicular phases. The comparable pregnancy rates in donors and recipients are attributed to the common source oocytes regardless of endometrial stimulation.
Volume
72
Issue
2
First Page
408
Last Page
414
ISSN
0021-972X
Published In/Presented At
Navot, D., Bergh, P. A., Williams, M., Garrisi, G. J., Guzman, I., Sandler, B., Fox, J., Schreiner-Engel, P., Hofmann, G. E., & Grunfeld, L. (1991). An insight into early reproductive processes through the in vivo model of ovum donation. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 72(2), 408–414. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-72-2-408
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
1991811
Department(s)
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Document Type
Article