Cyclooxygenase-2 network as predictive molecular marker for clinical pregnancy in in vitro fertilization

The gene expression of human endometrium on the day of oocyte retrieval of pregnant and nonpregnant patients in a stimulated IVF cycle was compared in two independent groups with different GnRH-antagonist ovarian stimulation protocols. The present data suggest that increased gene expression of cyclooxygenase-2, together with the expression of other molecules in the cyclooxygenase-2 network, on the day of oocyte retrieval in GnRH-antagonist cycles coincides with a lower probability of achieving a clinical pregnancy in this cycle.