Table 2. In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycle characteristics of the three treatment groups
Characteristic	Group 1 (E2 gel)	Group 2 (E2 oral)	Group 3 (E2 patch)	p-value
N	32	33	39
No. of oocytes retrieved	11.12±4.42	8.78±4.56	8.87±4.47	0.06
No. of embryos I+II	3.66±2.4	3.03±1.48	3.12±2.85	0.39
No. of embryos transferred	1.96±0.17	1.90±0.29	1.89±0.30	0.50
Implantation rate (%)	20.31±27.99	22.72±30.85	17.94±26.87	0.77
Clinical PR, % (no.)	43.7 (14/32)	42.4(14/33)	38.4 (15/39)	0.86
Miscarriage rate % (no.)	14.2 (2/14)	14.2 (2/14)	13.3 (2/15)	0.43
Multiple-pregnancy rate, % (no.)	3.12 (1/32)	3.03(1/33)	2.56 (1/39)	0.63
E2 level beta hCG day (pg/ml)	605.34±278.94	595.06±281.73	571.23±303.86	0.87
P level beta hCG day (ng/ml)	12.81±2.17	12.93±2.17	13.64±3.03	0.32
Δ E2 level beta hCG day E2 level hCG administration	2180.28±16.53	1719.93±12.14	1984.41±14.38	0.07
Δ P level beta hCG day P level hCG administration	12.41±3.33	12.51±3.51	13.11±2.69	0.08
Note: p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Data are expressed as mean values ± SD or as proportions and absolute numbers. Δ - Mean of Variation of hormone profile