Livebirth rate after one frozen embryo transfer in ovulatory women starting with natural, modified natural, or artificial endometrial preparation in Viet Nam: an open-label randomised controlled trial

What Was Tested

This randomized controlled trial paper looks at hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in the context of endometriosis.

However, the best endometrial preparation protocol for FET cycles is unclear.

The researchers compared natural and modified natural cycle strategies with an artificial cycle strategy for endometrial preparation before FET.

Who Took Part

The age groups tagged for this paper are teenagers, young adults, adults and middle-aged adults, women only.

In this randomised, open-label study, the researchers recruited ovulatory women aged 18-45 years at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, who were randomly allocated (1:1:1) to natural, modified natural, or artificial cycle endometrial preparation using a computer-generated random list and block randomisation.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized and open-label study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Everyone knew when hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) was being given (open label), which is simpler to run but leaves more room for expectations to affect what is reported.

The trial was not masked due to the nature of the study interventions.

In natural cycles, no oestrogen, progesterone, or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was used.

In modified natural cycles, hCG was used to trigger ovulation.

Embryos were vitrified, and then one or two day-3 embryos or one day-5 embryo were warmed and transferred under ultrasound guidance.

If the first FET cycle was cancelled, subsequent cycles were performed with artificial endometrial preparation.

What Was Measured

The primary endpoint was livebirth after one FET.

The subject headings attached to it are Embryo Transfer, Endometrium, Vietnam, Live Birth, Cryopreservation, Progesterone and Estradiol.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and open-label study of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in people with endometriosis.

Results are reported in around 4 sentences of the abstract; we leave them to the paper itself rather than summarise them.

The publication is from 2024 (Lancet (London, England)), a journal based in England.

More context: the hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) compound page, Endometriosis research.