Dear Editor,
We read the article by Banker et al. (
1
) with pleasure because their results support our prior observations (2
, 3
, 4
). We had also compared 2 matched cycles of 59 oocyte donors, 1 with follicular estradiol scheduling (FES) and 1 without (2
, 3
). Both were flexible gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist cycles; however, different from the study by Banker et al. (1
), we administered 2 mg of estradiol valerate tablets 3 times a day, from cycle day 2 until commencement of gonadotropins on a scheduled day (1
, 2
).We collected a similar number of oocytes after significantly longer stimulation (on average by 1 day) and higher gonadotropin consumption (on average, 93 IU) (
2
). Yet, the differences were probably clinically insignificant. In contrast, Banker et al. (1
) reported significantly higher oocyte yield with similar duration of stimulation and gonadotropin consumption with FES (1
). The differences in oocyte numbers can stem from the different duration of FES in the 2 studies, on average 2 versus 5.7 days, in our study and the study by Banker et al. (1
), respectively (1
, 2
). The longer duration of FES may have served to synchronize follicular cohort. Both our study and the study by Banker et al. (1
) are nonrandomized cohort studies, which can be considered hypothesis generating, and whether FES increases oocyte yield through synchronization after a certain duration seems worthy of triage by an adequately large randomized controlled trial. We would suggest that this trial would include women undergoing assisted reproductive technology with autologous oocytes for better assessment of implantation potential. If FES proves to be an easy method of cycle scheduling and synchronization of the follicular cohort with potential to improve oocyte yield, its use can be extended to a wider patient population.Although the claim of Banker et al. (
1
) to be the first to develop FES in donors is incorrect given our prior publications (2
, 3
), they are to be commended for providing the serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels, following up recipients, and reporting the implantation and pregnancy rates with or without FES.References
- Follicular phase cycle programming using estradiol in oocyte donors-a convenient and effective approach.FS Rep. 2022; 3: 20-25
- Oocyte yield of GnRH antagonist cycles scheduled with a short course of estradiol in the early follicular phase.Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2021; 48: 278-282
- A novel and simple method to schedule GnRH antagonist cycles with a short course of oral estradiol in the early follicular phase.Hum Reprod. 2019; 34: 631
- Scheduling GnRH antagonist cycles by a short course of oral estradiol administration during early follicular phase: a comparative study with non-scheduled cycles.Gynecol Endocrinol. 2015; 31: 465-468
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 29, 2022
Accepted:
March 22,
2022
Received in revised form:
March 15,
2022
Received:
March 6,
2022
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© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
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Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- Follicular phase cycle programming using estradiol in oocyte donors–a convenient and effective approachF&S ReportsVol. 3Issue 1Open Access
- Reply of the Authors: Follicular phase estradiol administration can be the easiest way of cycle scheduling and follicular synchronizationF&S ReportsVol. 3Issue 2
- PreviewThe authors thank Prof Ata and his associates for showing interest in our article entitled “Follicular phase cycle programming using estradiol in oocyte donors-a convenient and effective approach”(1). It is, indeed, rewarding to note that Turkgeldi et al. (2) have also studied cycle programming using estradiol in oocyte donors and have noted similar results as those of our study. Their results were first presented in the European Society of Human Reprodution and Embryology in 2019 (2) and subsequently published as a research article in April 2021 (3).
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