Is home-based monitoring of ovulation to time frozen embryo transfer a cost-effective alternative for hospital-based monitoring of ovulation? Study protocol of the multicentre, non-inferiority Antarctica-2 randomised controlled trial.

• Published in: Human Reproduction Open
• Main Authors: Zaat, T R, de Bruin, J P, Goddijn, M, van Baal, M, Benneheij, E B, Brandes, E M, Broekmans, F, Cantineau, A E P, Cohlen, B, van Disseldorp, J, Gielen, S C J P, Groenewoud, E R, van Heusden, A, Kaaijk, E M, Koks, C, de Koning, C H, Klijn, N F, Lambalk, C B, van der Linden, P J Q, Manger, P, van Oppenraaij, R H F, Pieterse, Q, Smeenk, J, Visser, J, van Wely, M, Mol, F
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PubMed Central 2021
• Subjects: ART; LH; chorionic gonadotrophin; embryo transfer; freezing; ovarian follicle; ovulation; ovulation induction; randomised controlled trial; ultrasonography; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1093/hropen/hoab035; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35692982; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8569595/

The objective of this trial is to compare the effectiveness and costs of true natural cycle (true NC-) frozen embryo transfer (FET) using urinary LH tests to modified NC-FET using repeated ultrasound monitoring and ovulation trigger to time FET in the NC. Secondary outcomes are the cancellation rates of FET (ovulation before hCG or no dominant follicle, no ovulation by LH urine test, poor embryo survival), pregnancy outcomes (miscarriage rate, clinical pregnancy rates, multiple ongoing pregnancy rates, live birth rates, costs) and neonatal outcomes (including gestational age, birthweight and sex, congenital abnormalities or diseases of babies born).