Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether day 3 FSH and E2 levels at the upper limits of normal affect live-birth rates and treatment trajectory in a conventional versus "fast track" treatment program for IVF. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials, FASTT and FORT-T. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): Infertile women ages 21-42 years randomized to conventional or accelerated treatment with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)-IUI and/or IVF (n=603 patients contributing 2,717 total cycles). INTERVENTION(S): Patients were stratified according to basal FSH and E2: FSH<10 mIU/mL and E2<40 pg/mL (group 1A), FSH<10 mIU/mL and E2≥40 pg/mL (group 1B), FSH, 10-15 mIU/mL and E2<40 pg/mL (group 2A), and FSH, 10-15 mIU/mL and E2≥40 pg/mL (group 2B). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Number of cancelled cycles, disenrollment for poor response, and cumulative live-birth rates per couple. RESULT(S): Women in groups 2A and 2B were more likely to have cancelled cycles and be disenrolled for poor response. While no live births occurred in group 2B during COH-IUI (0/19 couples, 0/58 cycles), IVF still afforded these patients a reasonable chance of success (6/18 couples, 6/40 cycles, 33.3% live-birth rate per couple). The specificity and positive predictive value of basal FSH of 10-15 mIU/mL and E2≥40 pg/mL for no live birth during COH-IUI treatment were both 100%. CONCLUSION(S): Women who initiated infertility treatment with FSH of 10-15 mIU/mL and E2≥40 pg/mL on day 3 testing were unlikely to achieve live birth after COH-IUI treatment.