Serum progesterone in predicting pregnancy outcome after assisted reproductive technology.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine whether serum progesterone predicts pregnancy outcome after superovulation.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-three consecutively pregnant patients were divided into three groups: group I, 55 patients following superovulation for assisted reproductive technologies; group II, 23 patients after correction of oligoovulation; and group III, 45 patients who conceived spontaneously. When beta-human chorionic gonadotropin was positive, progesterone was measured on the same serum sample. A serum progesterone level of 45 microns/L was set to differentiate between nonviable pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy.


RESULTS
In group I, zero (0%) of 38 ongoing pregnancies and 10 (59%) of 17 nonviable pregnancies were observed with a progesterone level of < 45 microns/L [14.2 ng/ml (P < 0.001)]. In group II, 4 (27%) of 15 ongoing pregnancies and 5 (63%) of 8 nonviable pregnancies had a progesterone level of < 45 microns/L (P = NS). In group III, 10 (42%) of 24 ongoing pregnancies and 15 (71%) of 21 nonviable pregnancies were observed with a progesterone level of < 45 microns/L (14.2 ng/ml) (P = NS).


CONCLUSIONS
A serum progesterone level of < 45 nM predicts nonviable pregnancy after superovulation for assisted reproductive technology.
al-Ramahi
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Perkins
S
S
Claman
P
P
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D010053:Ovary / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D013480:Superovulation / Q000502:physiology
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone