Reproductive healthLecture
Hormonal Architecture of Frozen Embryo Transfer: Role of LH in HRT and Natural Cycle
Why does the corpus luteum still matter when we transfer in HRT? A walk through 40+ years of LH-progesterone evidence, three studies (two fundamental, one practical) on luteal-phase support, and where the 22+ existing FET protocols separate into corpus-luteum-supported and corpus-luteum-free strategies.
Audio: UASubtitles: EN · UA · RU32 min
Volodymyr Kotlik
MD, PhD
First Deputy Director General of the «Mother and Child» Medical Center in Kyiv. Candidate of Medical Sciences (PhD), obstetrician-gynecologist and specialist in reproductive medicine.
Ukraine
What was shown
Why the corpus luteum still matters when transfer happens in HRT. A walk through 40+ years of LH-progesterone evidence — including L'Correli's 1984 study and pulsatile LH measurement at 10-minute intervals — and the structural split between FET protocols with and without a corpus luteum.
Key findings
Corpus luteum function depends on LH pulsatility — after every pulse there is a progesterone response 40 minutes later. There are more than 22 published luteal-phase support protocols, which sort into two groups: corpus-luteum-supported (natural cycle, modified natural, NPP) and corpus-luteum-free (HRT). The corpus-luteum-free group is associated with higher rates of preeclampsia, hypertensive disorders, postpartum haemorrhage and preterm birth.
