Evaluation of uterine artery doppler and estrogen milieu in oocyte donation pregnancies-a pilot study

Oocyte donations (OD) represent 4.5% of all in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. While OD pregnancies face increased risks of obstetrical complications, especially pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia (PE), little is known about the physiology and the physiopathology of placentation. We performed a prospective case-control study to analyze uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and serum maternal 17β-estradiol (17β-E) at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation in singleton pregnancies with different modes of conception. Study groups were: 55 OD, 48 IVF with autologous oocytes from fresh cycles (Autologous-Fresh IVF), 10 IVF with autologous oocytes from frozen cycles (Autologous-Frozen IVF) and 122 spontaneously conceived pregnancies (SC). The mean UtA-PI and serum maternal 17β-E at 11 to 13 + 6 weeks were significantly lower in OD as compared to SC and autologous IVF, either from fresh or frozen cycles. Oocyte donation presents lower UtA-PI and lower serum 17β-E in the first trimester of pregnancy. The etiology of these particularr differences is likely multifactorial and deserves further investigation.