Natural cycle versus stimulated or artificial cycle in frozen–thawed embryo transfer: a randomized prospective trial

Salwa H.B. El-Wakil, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo, EgyptFollow
Naglaa M. Moharam, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Ahmed G.A. El-Seuror, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Article Type

Original Study

Subject Area

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Objective The goal of this study was to see if there was a difference in pregnancy outcomes between natural cycle frozen–thawed embryo transfer (NC-FET) cycles, artificial cycle–FET cycles, and stimulated cycle (SC)–FET cycles in women with regular menstrual cycles. Patients and methods This prospective randomized clinical study was conducted in Assisted Reproductive Unit (ART), The International Islamic Center for Population Studies and Research, El Hussein Hospital, Al-Azhar University, in the period of September 2019 till August 2020. Results There was a significant increase in immotile sperms in the natural group (P=0.014). Group I had much lower total count and total motility than the other groups, whereas group II had significantly greater total count and total motility. There was no statistically significant difference between the analyzed groups in terms of patients’ basal ultrasonography, transplanted embryos, embryo grade, and embryo stage (P>0.05). The majority of women in groups I and II had miscarriages (45 and 42.5%, respectively). The other half of group III did not have a clinical pregnancy, while half of group III did (50%). Conclusion In women with regular menstrual cycles, natural, artificial, and SCs all had similar pregnancy outcomes, including pregnancy rates, implantation rates, and cancelation rates, however, SCs had a greater incidence of endometrial thickness, semen volume, and pregnancy rates. NC-FET, on the other hand, is preferred since it does not require medication, is less expensive, and has less adverse effects.

Keywords

artificial cycle, embryo transfer, natural cycle, stimulated cycle

Recommended Citation

El-Wakil, Salwa H.B.; Moharam, Naglaa M.; and El-Seuror, Ahmed G.A. (2023) "Natural cycle versus stimulated or artificial cycle in frozen–thawed embryo transfer: a randomized prospective trial," Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research: Vol. 7: Iss. 1, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59299/2537-0928.1018