Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

Narayan et al.,1994 [20]

United Kingdom

prospective

112

Conception group: 34.1 ± 4.23

Non-conception group: 34.2 ± 4.59

Tubal (48.2%)

Male factor (11.6%)

Unexplained infertility (25.9%)

Endometriosis (7.1%)

PCOS (4.5%)

Premature menopause (2.7%)

IVF: COH and FET cycles

30.36%

not reported

COH: 1.59 ± 1.08

FET: 1.74 ± 0.86

HRT/FET cycles: 1.44 ± 1.29

COH:

Retrograde 37.1%

Antegrade 35.7%

Indeterminate 27.2%

FET:

Retrograde: 46.7%

Antegrade: 33.3%

Indeterminate: 20.0%

HRT/FET:

Retrograde: 100%

not reported

not reported

Ayoubi et al.,2003 [6]

France and Switzerland

prospective crossover trial

6

28–35 (31.8)

Male factor (100%)

Group A: Natural Cycle (without IVF Treatment)

Group B: IVF: COH Long protocol

33.33%

not reported

A: 5.3 ± 0.7

B: 0.5 ± 1

not reported

not reported

not reported

Ijland et al.,1998 [21]

Netherlands

prospective

19

26–36 (32)

not reported

IUI

not reported

not reported

not reported

not reported

not reported

not reported

Fanchin et al.,1998 [22]

France

prospective

209

23–38

Tubal (40%)

Male factor (45%)

Unexplained infertility (12%)

Endometriosis (3%)

IVF: COH Agonist Protocol

not reported

 ≤ 3 UC/min: 9.8 ± 0.3

3.1–4 UC/min: 9.2 ± 0.3

4.1–5 UC/min: 9.4 ± 0.4

 > 5 UC/min: 9.9 ± 0.3

4.3 ± 0.1

Retrograde 15%

Antegrade 28%

Antagonistic 11%

Non-propagated 6%

CP:

Serum P (ng/ml)

 < 3.0 UC/min group: 0.96 ng/ml;

3.1–4.0 UC/min group: 0.77 ng/ml;

4.1–5.0 UC/min group: 0.81 ng/ml

 > 5.0 UC/min group: 0.74 ng/ml

Serum E2 (pg/ml):

 < 3.0 UC/min group: 2589 pg/ml

3.1–4.0 UC/min group: 2449 pg/ml

4.1–5.0 UC/min group: 2754 pg/ml

 > 5.0 UC/min group: 2376 pg/ml

not reported

Ijland et al.,1999 [23]

Netherlands

prospective

28

25–38 (32)

Tubal (35.7%)

Endometriosis (3.5%)

Male factor (13.28%)

Unexplained subfertility (46.4%)

IVF: COH Agonist Long- protocol

39%

13.4 ± 3.9

CF waves:

7.11 ± 4 (on hCG -6)

6, 9.4 ± 5.7 on the (day of hCG)

10.1 ± 5.0 (day of ET)

FC waves:

8.12 ± 4.5 (on hCG -6)

7.15 ± 5.2 (day of hCG)

Absent FC:

P: 35.7%

NCP: 14.3%

Present FC:

P: 3.5%

NCP: 25%

not reported

not reported

Fanchin et al.,2000 [24]

France

prospective

59

23–38

Tubal abnormalities (39%)

Sperm abnormalities (54%)

Unexplained infertility (5%)

Endometriosis (2%)

IVF: COH Agonist Protocol

Low P group: 27%

CPR: 18%

high P group: 46%

CPR: 35%

not reported

Day HCG: 4.6 ± 0.2

Day ET: 4.2 ± 0.2

Day of hCG administration:

Retrograde (CF) 62%

Antegrade (FC) 27%

Antagonistic 9%

non-propagated, 2%

Day of ET:

Retrograde (CF) 61%

Antegrade (FC) 24%

Antagonistic 14%

non-propagated 1%

hCG administration:

Serum E2

Low P: 2 150 ± 124 pg/ml

High P: 3 043 ± 240 pg/ml

Serum Progesterone

Low P: 1065 ± 76 pg/ml

High P: 1189 ± 86 pg/ml

On the day of embryo transfer:

Serum E2

Low P: 1065 ± 76 pg/ml

High P: 1189 ± 86 pg/ml

Serum Progesterone

Low P: 61.9 ng/ml (7.4–98.0)

High P: 128.8 ng/ml (102.9–232.0)

not reported

Vlaisavljevic et al.,2001 [25]

Slovenia

prospective

122

not reported

not reported

IVF: COH

23.8%

P: 12.2 ± 2.2

NCP: 11.9 ± 2.7

not reported

Day of cycle + 6:

antegrade 11.1

retrograde 18.5

both 15.2

CP:

Day of cycle + 2

Serum P (nmol / L) 115.4 ± 57.6

Serum E2 (nmol / L) 1.8 ± 1.4

NCP:

Day of cycle + 2

Serum P(nmol / L) 102.6 ± 55.1

Serum E2 (nmol / L) 2.5 ± 5.5

CP:

Day of cycle + 6

Serum P (nmol / L) 147.5 ± 45.5

Serum E2(nmol / L) 3.1 ± 2.3

Day of cycle + 12

Serum P (nmol / L) 131.3 ± 65.4*

Serum E2 (nmol / L) 2.2 ± 1.9*

NCP:

Day of cycle + 6

Serum P (nmol / L) 134.1 ± 48.5

Serum E2 (nmol / L) 3.5 ± 3.8

Day of cycle + 12

Serum P (nmol / L) 17.4 ± 33.7

Serum E2 (nmol / L) 0.6 ± 1.1

Vangestel et al.,2005 [26]

Netherlands

prospective

90

22–41 (33)

Tubal pathology (13.33%)

endometriosis (2.22%)

male factor infertility (58.88%)

unexplained subfertility (25.55%)

IVF: COH

30.23%

not reported

not reported

CF 32.1%

FC 55.9%

not reported

not reported

Kim et al., 2013 [27]

Korea

Observational study

243

Conception group (49): 31.43 ± 3.06

Non-conception group (192): 32.86 ± 3.56

unexplained infertility (100%)

CC 100 mg, IUI

NP: 79.66%

P: 20.33%

not reported

NCP: 3.46 ± 1.89

P: 4.02 ± 1.44

NCP:

CF: 75.5%

FC: 89.8%

P:

CF: 24.5%

FC: 10.2%

not reported

not reported

Zhu et al.,2014 (Nov 2013) [9]

China

prospective

112

not reported

not reported

IVF: COH

44.9%

not reported

2.24 ± 0.74 waves/min

not reported

not reported

not reported

Zhu et al., 2014 [9]

China

prospective

292

20–35

29.1 ± 3.5

not reported

IVF: COH long agonist protocol

Natural FET

HRT FET

53.42%

CP: 11.3 + 2.7

NCP: 11.2 + 3.0

Fresh cycles: 1.80 ± 0.77

Natural FET: 2.05 ± 0.80

HRT FET: 2.15 ± 0.81

not reported

CP:

Serum E2 (pg/ml) 1068.3 + 973.0

Serum P (ng/ml) 56.3 + 11.5

Fresh cycle 58.3 + 9.3

Natural FET cycle 53.2 + 13.6

Artificial FET cycle 53.0 + 14.5

NP:

Serum E2 (pg/ml) 947.1 + 903.6

Serum P (ng/ml) 52.8 + 15.2

Fresh cycle 59.0 + 7.2

Natural FET cycle 48.4 + 16.4

Artificial FET cycle 43.8 + 20.0

not reported

Chung et al.,2017 [28]

China

prospective

286

CP: 34.6 ± 3.0

NCP: 35.1 ± 3.4

Ovulatory problem (4.6%)

Tubal (50.5%)

Male factor (28.9%)

Endometriosis (7.1%)

Unexplained (8.8%)

COH: Long protocol vs antagonist protocol

42%

1% (ectopic pregnancy)

32.5% (LBR)

CP: 11 ± 0.2

NCP: 11 ± 0.3

 − 5 min: 1.8 ± 1.1

 + 5 min: 2.0 ± 1.1

 + 60 min: 1.8 ± 1.1

–5 min

Retrograde: 41.3%

Antegrade: 43.5%

Indeterminate: 38.8%

Nil: 44.4%

 + 5 min

Retrograde: 43.9%

Antegrade: 39.5%

Indeterminate: 37.8%

Nil: 61.5%

 + 60 min

Retrograde: 40.8%

Antegrade: 32.1%

Indeterminate: 70.6%

Nil: 60%

CP:

Serum E2 (pmol/L)

5928.8 ± 3030.8

Serum Progesterone (nmol/L)

304.2 ± 140.3

NCP:

Serum E2 (pmol/L) 5629.1 ± 3720.5

Serum Progesterone (nmol/L)

261.2 ± 133.5

not reported

Samara et al., 2019 [29]

Israel

retrospective

224

Control: 35.1 ± 3.7

MatrisTM scoring: 35.2 ± 3.7

not reported

FET cycles

44.3% (Control)

42% (MatrisTM scoring)

38.2% (Waves Group)

Control: 9.3 ± 1.8

Waves group: 9.4 ± 2.5

MatrisTM scoring: 9.4 ± 2

not reported

not reported

not reported

not reported

Blank et al.,2020 [14]

Netherlands

prospective

16

Ongoing pregnancy: 29.9 ± 3.9

No ongoing pregnancy: 33.9 ± 4.6

Male factor (50%)

Tubal (12.5%)

Unexplained infertility (25%)

Hormonal disorders (18.75%)

Recurrent miscarriage (6.25%)

COH: Agonist vs antagonist Protocol

43.8% (fresh SET with a day-5 embryo)

56.3% (positive HCG test at a gestational age of 6 weeks, ongoing implantation)

Overall: 9.2 ± 2.8

Ongoing pregnancy: 8.8 ± 1.6

No ongoing pregnancy: 9.4 ± 3.9

1 h before ET:

Ongoing implantation group: 1.35 ± 0.44

Ongoing pregnancy group: 1.45 ± 0.42

No ongoing implantation group: 0.91 ± 0.19

No ongoing pregnancy group: 0.93 ± 0.22

5–7 days after ET:

Ongoing implantation group: 0.050 Hz ± 0.005

Ongoing pregnancy group: 0.050 Hz ± 0.004

No ongoing implantation group: 0.045 Hz ± 0.004

No ongoing pregnancy group: 0.045 Hz ± 0.005

not reported

E2:

Total: 1115 (210–2630)

Ongoing pregnancy: 1240 (1030–2630)

No ongoing pregnancy: 842 (210–1450)

Progesterone:

Total: 0.3 (0.15–1.23)

Ongoing pregnancy: 0.3 (0.15–0.75)

No ongoing pregnancy: 0.31 (0.15–1.23)

E2:

Total: 153 (25–486)

Ongoing pregnancy: 326 (70–486)

No ongoing pregnancy: 25 (25–44)

Progesterone:

Total: 15 (8–71)

Ongoing pregnancy: 16 (13–37)

No ongoing pregnancy: 13 (8–71)

Anshikha et al., 2021 [30]

India

prospective

60

20–45

33.33 ± 5.22

Poor ovarian reserve (45%)

Tubal (18.3%)

COH:Antagonist protocol

FET HRT

38.3%

not reported

56.7%: > 3/2 min

20%: < 3/2 min

not reported

not reported

not reported

Masroor et al.,2023 [31]

Iran

prospective

68

25–40

not reported

FET HRT cycle

36.8%

7–15

9.02 ± 2.2

PR: 2.2 ± 1.6

NPR: 3.3 ± 1.2

not reported

not reported

not reported

Li et al.,2023

China

prospective

230

20–35

Unexplained infertility (0.9%)

Male factor (6.1%)

Female factor (46.1%)

Male and female factor (47%)

COH

68.7%

Total: 11.26 ± 2.14

NPR: 11.44 ± 2.28

PR: 11.18 ± 2.08

Total: 2.90 ± 1.44

NPR: 2.86 ± 1.56

PR: 2.92 ± 1.38

not reported

not reported

not reported