Table 2.
Protocol and outcomes definition in the included studies.
| References | ART type | Down-regulation protocol | ET protocol | Intervention protocol | Intervention time | Control | Biochemical pregnancy | Clinical pregnancy | Live birth | Miscarriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunon et al. (18) | ICSI-ET | GnRH antagonist or GnRH agonist | Day 2 to 5; ET number 1–3 | 2 doses of 0.975 mg melatonin, 2 g myo-inositol, 200 μg FA, and 27.5 μg selenium | For at least 2 months before the ovarian puncture | NR | HCG > 50 mU/mL 12 to 15 days after ET | Gestational sacs and fetal cardiac activity under transvaginal ultrasonography | NR | NR |
| Jahromi et al. (19) | IVF-ET | GnRH agonist | Day 3, ET number NR | 3 mg melatonin every night | From the day 5 prior to COS up to ovum pickup | Placebo | Elevation in serum β-hCG levels 16 days after ET | Embryo with cardiac activity | NR | NR |
| Pacchiarotti et al. (20) | ICSI-ET | GnRH agonist | Day 2, ET number NR | Myo-inositol (4000 mg), FA (400 mcg) and melatonin (3 mg) | From the first day of the cycle until 14 days after ET | Myo-inositol (4000 mg) and FA (400 mcg) | NR | Presence of a gestational sac on ultrasonography | NR | NR |
| Rizzo et al. (21) | IVF-ET | GnRH agonist | NR | 2 g myo-inositol twice with 200 mg FA and 3 mg melatonin | From the day of GnRH agonist treatment | 2 g myo-inositol twice with 200 mg FA | Increase in β-hCG | Embryo with cardiac activity | NR | Loss of the pregnancy at 5-12 weeks of gestation. |
| Mokhtari et al. (22) | IUI | None | NA | 3 mg melatonin | From day 3 to the triggering day | Placebo | β-hCG test | NR | NR | NR |
| Eryilmaz et al. (23) | IVF-ET | GnRH agonist | Day 3, ET number 1-3 | 3 mg melatonin | From the 3rd to the 5th day until the triggering day | None | β-hCG ≥ 20 IU/L on the 12th day after ET | Presence of a gestational sac on ultrasonography | NR | NR |
| Fernando et al. (24) | IVF or ICSI-ET | GnRH antagonist | Day 3 or 5, ET number NR | 2/4/8 mg melatonin | From day 2 until the day before oocyte retrieval | Placebo | NR | A live intrauterine pregnancy on transvaginal ultrasound | NR | NR |
| Batioglu et al. (25) | IVF-ET | GnRH agonist | NR | 3 mg melatonin | NR | None | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Kim et al. (26) | IVM-IVF-ET | NA | ET day NR, ET number 2-3 | 10 umol/l in the culture medium | 24–48 h | None | NR | Positive β-hCG with an intrauterine pregnancy | NR | NR |
| Espino et al. (27) | ICSI-ET | GnRH antagonist | Day 2 or 3, ET number 1 | 3/6 mg melatonin | from the first appointment to COS until ovum pickup | None | NR | NR | NR | NR |
NR, not reported; NA, not applicable; ET, embryo transfer; IVF, in vitro fertilization; ICSI, Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection; IUI, intrauterine insemination; COS, control ovarian stimulation; FA, folic acid.