Comparison of pregnancy outcomes of progesterone or progesterone + estradiol for luteal phase support in ICSI-ET cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To find out the effect of estradiol with progesterone for luteal phase support in IVF-ICSI cycles.


METHODS
Patients were accepted for treatment in the ART unit of Selcuk University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, between January 2001 and March 2003. The study was done in a prospective manner. The age range of 252 women was 19-41 years and the total number of cycles was 310. All patients were treated with a long ovulation induction protocol. Patients were treated and divided into two groups in a randomized manner: group I used only 600 mg/day divided into three equal doses of micronized progesterone vaginally, and group II used transdermal estradiol 100 microg/day + 600 mg/day vaginal micronized progesterone.


RESULTS
310 ICSI cycles were carried out in 252 infertile couples between January 2001 and March 2003. From 22 of these cycles, oocytes were retrieved but no embryos were developed. In the remaining 288 cycles there were embryo transfers. All embryo development was achieved by ICSI treatment. In 148 out of 288 cycles, the luteal phase was supported only by vaginal micronized progesterone (group I). On the other hand, the remaining 140 cycles received vaginal micronized progesterone plus transdermal estradiol 100 microg/day (group II). The number of beta-hCG-positive results in group I and group II were 20 (13.5 %) and 54 (38.5%) respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Adding estradiol to progesterone for luteal phase support in ICSI-ET cycles may increase implantation and pregnancy rates.
Gorkemli
H
H
ART Unit of Selcuk University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
Ak
D
D
Akyurek
C
C
Aktan
M
M
Duman
S
S
D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol