Impact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a propensity score matched retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background Few studies have analyzed the endometrial preparation protocols for frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in patients at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This study aimed to investigate the optimal protocol for endometrial preparation in FET cycles for patient...

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Main Authors: Xu Cao, Caixia Gao, Mingjiao Su, Dian Zhang, Fuyang Zhao, Wentao Li, Pengfei Qu, Juanzi Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07535-x
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author Xu Cao
Caixia Gao
Mingjiao Su
Dian Zhang
Fuyang Zhao
Wentao Li
Pengfei Qu
Juanzi Shi
author_facet Xu Cao
Caixia Gao
Mingjiao Su
Dian Zhang
Fuyang Zhao
Wentao Li
Pengfei Qu
Juanzi Shi
author_sort Xu Cao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Few studies have analyzed the endometrial preparation protocols for frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in patients at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This study aimed to investigate the optimal protocol for endometrial preparation in FET cycles for patients at high risk of OHSS. Methods This study included women who underwent assisted reproductive technology treatment between January 2021 and December 2022 at the Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology of Northwest Women’s and Children’s Hospital, China.Patients were categorized into three groups based on their endometrial preparation protocols: hormone replacement therapy (HRT), natural cycle (NC), and ovarian stimulation (OS). To balance covariates and sample sizes across the groups, propensity score matching was used. Multiple regression analyses were conducted on the matched datasets to assess the relationship between different protocols and pregnancy outcomes while controlling for confounding factors. Results A total of 1783 patients were enrolled in this study, including 1431 in the HRT protocol group, 212 in the NC protocol group, and 140 in the OS protocol group. After propensity score matching and adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable regression analysis revealed that the NC group had a higher rate of live birth (adjusted OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.03–2.19) and biochemical pregnancy (adjusted OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.03–2.39), along with a lower cesarean delivery rate(adjusted OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26–0.74) compared to the HRT group. Similarly, the OS group demonstrated a higher rate of live birth (adjusted OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.55–4.14), biochemical pregnancy (adjusted OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.22–3.75), and clinical pregnancy (adjusted OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.10–3.15), alongside a lower miscarriage rate (adjusted OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.12–0.71) compared to the HRT group. Conclusion For patients at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer, both the OS and NC protocols showed superior pregnancy outcomes compared to the HRT protocol for endometrial preparation.
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spelling doaj-art-3dc1107948d7414dafcd5dcff88b418b2025-08-20T02:17:57ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-04-0125111310.1186/s12884-025-07535-xImpact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a propensity score matched retrospective cohort studyXu Cao0Caixia Gao1Mingjiao Su2Dian Zhang3Fuyang Zhao4Wentao Li5Pengfei Qu6Juanzi Shi7Assisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Women’s and Children’s HospitalAssisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Women’s and Children’s HospitalAssisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Women’s and Children’s HospitalAssisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Women’s and Children’s HospitalSchool of Nursing, Shaanxi University of Chinese MedicineNational Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, Centre for Big Data Research in Health, School of Women’s and Children’s Health, The University of New South WalesAssisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Women’s and Children’s HospitalAssisted Reproduction Center, Northwest Women’s and Children’s HospitalAbstract Background Few studies have analyzed the endometrial preparation protocols for frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in patients at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). This study aimed to investigate the optimal protocol for endometrial preparation in FET cycles for patients at high risk of OHSS. Methods This study included women who underwent assisted reproductive technology treatment between January 2021 and December 2022 at the Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology of Northwest Women’s and Children’s Hospital, China.Patients were categorized into three groups based on their endometrial preparation protocols: hormone replacement therapy (HRT), natural cycle (NC), and ovarian stimulation (OS). To balance covariates and sample sizes across the groups, propensity score matching was used. Multiple regression analyses were conducted on the matched datasets to assess the relationship between different protocols and pregnancy outcomes while controlling for confounding factors. Results A total of 1783 patients were enrolled in this study, including 1431 in the HRT protocol group, 212 in the NC protocol group, and 140 in the OS protocol group. After propensity score matching and adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable regression analysis revealed that the NC group had a higher rate of live birth (adjusted OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.03–2.19) and biochemical pregnancy (adjusted OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.03–2.39), along with a lower cesarean delivery rate(adjusted OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.26–0.74) compared to the HRT group. Similarly, the OS group demonstrated a higher rate of live birth (adjusted OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.55–4.14), biochemical pregnancy (adjusted OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.22–3.75), and clinical pregnancy (adjusted OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.10–3.15), alongside a lower miscarriage rate (adjusted OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.12–0.71) compared to the HRT group. Conclusion For patients at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer, both the OS and NC protocols showed superior pregnancy outcomes compared to the HRT protocol for endometrial preparation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07535-xEndometrial preparation protocolsFrozen-thawed embryo transferPregnancy outcomeLive birth rate
spellingShingle Xu Cao
Caixia Gao
Mingjiao Su
Dian Zhang
Fuyang Zhao
Wentao Li
Pengfei Qu
Juanzi Shi
Impact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a propensity score matched retrospective cohort study
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Endometrial preparation protocols
Frozen-thawed embryo transfer
Pregnancy outcome
Live birth rate
title Impact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a propensity score matched retrospective cohort study
title_full Impact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a propensity score matched retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr Impact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a propensity score matched retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a propensity score matched retrospective cohort study
title_short Impact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a propensity score matched retrospective cohort study
title_sort impact of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in patients at high risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome a propensity score matched retrospective cohort study
topic Endometrial preparation protocols
Frozen-thawed embryo transfer
Pregnancy outcome
Live birth rate
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07535-x
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