Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.
A comparison of luteal phase support in graduated estradiol/progesterone replacement cycles using intramuscular progesterone alone versus combination with vaginal suppositories on outcome following frozen embryo transfer
Purpose: To compare pregnancy outcome following frozen embryo transfer according to type of progesterone (P) support given in the luteal phase. Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of frozen embryo transfer (ET) cycles in which ovulation was suppressed by graduated estradiol in the follicular phase. Two P regimens in the luteal phase were compared: P vaginal suppositories and intramuscular P vs intramuscular alone.
Results: The clinical and viable pregnancy rates were significantly higher for the women receiving only intramuscular P (57.6% and 43.7%) vs those receiving combined therapy (45.9% and 35.6%, respectively). The implantation rates were not significantly different (22.6% vs 19.5%). Conclusion: The increased pregnancy rates with intramuscular P may have been related to a higher number of embryos transferred (3.69 vs 3.26). Nevertheless, intramuscular P alone is at least as effective, if not more effective, than combined therapy for frozen embryo transfers.