Luteal phase stimulation – an overview of the literature

The luteal phase, initiated after ovulation, is characterized by the secretion of progesterone by the corpus luteum, which is essential for preparing the endometrium for em­bryo implantation. Luteal phase stimulation (LPS) is a procedure used in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), oocyte donation and fertility treatments, to optimize the number of oocytes for poor responder patients. This method is useful for wo­men with reduced ovarian reserve, increasing the num­ber of oocytes retrieved, thus augmenting the chances of ob­tai­ning more embryos, improving the chances of suc­ces­sful em­bryo implantation. Studies comparing luteal phase sti­mu­la­tion to traditional follicular phase stimulation have shown that LPS may offer benefits for women with poor ova­rian reserve or those undergoing fertility preservation. Ad­di­tio­nally, dual ovarian stimulation (DuoStim), which com­bines follicular and luteal phase stimulation in the same cycle, has proven effective, improving pregnancy out­comes for poor responders as a result of increasing the number of oocytes and embryos obtained. Although LPS tends to require a longer duration and higher doses of go­na­do­tro­pins, it has been associated with higher mature oocyte yields, though its cost-effectiveness and long-term cli­ni­cal benefits, especially in poor responders, need further in­ves­ti­ga­tion.