artificial endometrial preparation for frozen-thawed embryo transfer with or without pretreatment with depot gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist in women with regular menses.

objective:  to investigate the reproductive outcome of artificial endometrial preparation with exogenous steroids for frozen-thawed embryo transfer with and without pre-treatment with depot gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (gnrh-a) in women with regular menses. amaterials and methods: this is a prospective randomized clinical trial conducted in two rt centers on 176 women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer. all patients received oral estradiol valerate 4 mg daily from day 2 to day 5 and 6 mg per day from day 6 to the day of the pregnancy test. in day 13 of cycle, an ultrasound examination was performed. after ultrasound confirmation of endometrial thickness (≥8 mm) and no ovarian activity, progesterone in cyclogest supp (800 mg daily) was added. the dose of estradiol would be increased to 8 mg per day if the endometrial thickness was less than 8mm. two or 3 embryos were transferred via transcervical route 48 hours after the beginning of progesterone administration. in group a (93 patients), difereline (3.75 mg im), as a depot gnrh agonist was administered in the midluteal phase (day 21) of previous cycle. in the other group b (n = 83) steroid supplementation was commenced without prior pituitary suppression. chemical and clinical pregnancy rates were compared in two groups. results :no significant differences were seen between two groups in terms of chemical pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates. conclusion: the findings support the artificial protocol without any pretreatment suppressive drugs to reduce the adverse side effects of gnrh agonists also to minimize the costs.