Based on previous studies that suggested a positive impact of adequate serum progesterone levels in cycles of artificial endometrial preparation, Dr Sofia Gaggiotti, during her activity at the Reproductive Medicine Service of Dexeus Mujer, has carried out various studies and a prospective work in order to provide useful information that helps professionals to determine the best strategy to follow in the supplementation of this hormone in patients with low levels.

The results of her thesis, based on the analysis of four different studies available online (we attach a link and reference at the end of this newsletter), reveal that the minimum level of progesterone necessary to improve reproductive results is around 10 ng / mL.
Dr Gaggiotti observed that patients with a level higher or similar to this cut-off point had a lower abortion rate and a higher rate of live births compared to patients with lower levels.

Likewise, her studies indicate that approximately 38% of patients who undergo this treatment may have low levels of this hormone, and that factors such as age, weight, a history of low levels of this hormone and the time at which the serum determination is made with respect to the last dose administered, are factors that can predict this problem. In these cases, the administration of a daily supplementary dose from the day before the embryo transfer allows the rescue of 98% of the patients with these low levels, thus improving their reproductive results.

Reference studies:

Low serum progesterone the day prior to frozen embryo transfer of euploid embryos is associated with significant reduction in live birth rates
Gynecol Endocrinol2019 May;35(5):439-442.doi: 10.1080/09513590.2018.1534952.

Factors associated with serum progesterone concentrations the day before cryopreserved embryo transfer in artifical cycles
Reprod Biomed Online, 2020 Jun;40(6):797-804. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.03.001. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Low progesterone levels on the day before natural cycle frozen embryo transfer are negatively associated with live birth rates
Hum Reprod 2020 Jul 1;35(7):1623-1629. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deaa092.

Individualised luteal phase support in artificially prepared frozen embryo transfer cycles based on serum progesterone levels: a prospective cohort study
Hum Reprod. 2021 Mar 4; deab031. doi:10.1093/humrep/deab031.