Intramuscular versus vaginal administration of progesterone for luteal phase support after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. A comparative randomized study.
A total of 156 patients were randomly treated with exogenous natural progesterone (intramuscularly, 50 mg/day) and vaginal gel (90 mg/day) P or nothing (Controls) from the day before embryo transfer (ET) for two weeks. In case of positive beta-HCG, the treatment was continued for 12 weeks. Plasma P and 17 beta-Estradiol concentrations were estimated and compared with the control not supplemented group. Both treatments were able to increase significantly the luteal plasmatic values of P versus controls. The ongoing pregnancy and the living birth rates per transfer were significantly higher in the patients supplemented with intramuscular P than in those treated with vaginal gel P. The intramuscular natural P appears the most suitable route of administration for luteal phase support in IVF-ET procedures.
Abate
A
A
EFRA Italy (European Fertility Research Associates), Center of Human Reproduction, Messina, Italy.
Perino
M
M
Abate
F G
FG
Brigandì
A
A
Costabile
L
L
Manti
F
F
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008183:Luteal Phase; D011247:Pregnancy; D011255:Pregnancy Maintenance; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol