Different Strategies in Frozen IVF/ICSI Cycles

In general, the type of FET protocol for each patient is selected by the attending physicians at their own discretion. In all centers, patients with ovulatory cycles are typically prescribed an NC-FET or mNC-FET, whereas patients with oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea are prescribed an artificial cycle to prepare the endometrium for FET.

Ovarian stimulation protocol

• The antagonist protocol
• The long 21 /2 agonist protocol Laboratory technique

a. IVF or b. ICSI Embryo freezing using only vitrification will be performed in days 3 or 5/6. Embryo transfer will be conducted at days 3 or 5/6. The maximum number of embryos transferred will be two, as in accordance to the Hellenic legislation.

The following modalities will be analyzed, patients with:

• Natural cycle, spontaneous ovulation or ovulation triggering by exogenous hCG without luteal support (Group 1)
• Natural cycle, spontaneous ovulation or ovulation triggering by exogenous hCG with luteal support (progesterone) (Group 2)
• Hormone Replacement cycle (cyclacur) plus GnRHa suppression with luteal support (progesterone) (Group 3)
• Hormone Replacement cycle (cyclacur) without GnRHa suppression with luteal support (progesterone) (Group 4)

Of note, the conversion between different supplementation methods may be testimated as follows: 0.75 mg of micronised estradiol (oral administration) = 1.25 g of estradiol gel (transdermal administration) = 1 mg of estradiol valerate (oral or vaginal adminstration).

Inclusion criteria

age 25-39 years, BMI ≤ 35 and ≥ 19, normo-ovulatory patients and basal FSH ≤11 mIU/mL. Definition of expected normal ovarian response will be based primarily on antral follicle count (AFC) between 6-14.

Exclusion criteria

history of more than three previous unsuccessful IVF/ICSI cycles, FSH > 12 mIU/mL, BMI >35 or <19, poor ovarian response according to the 2011 Bologna criteria, PCOS patients according to the Rotterdam criteria, history of untreated autoimmune, endocrine or metabolic disorders, history of pathology affecting the endometrial cavity and/or receptivity and clinical and/or laboratory markers of hereditary or acquired thrombophilia that complied to the standard protocols of each Unit and patients without embryo after thawing.