title: Duration of progesterone-in-oil support after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: a randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of a short P-in-oil protocol (11 days) in comparison with a traditional P-in-oil protocol (6 weeks) after IVF and embryo transfer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral reproductive medicine unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first IVF-embryo transfer cycle of women<or=37 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  Either the standard protocol, 50 mg of IM P-in-oil daily for 6 weeks (group 1) or the study protocol, 50 mg of IM P-in-oil daily for 11 days (group 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred one patients were enrolled (48 in group 1, 53 in group 2). Mean age (31.8 years vs. 32.7 years) and reasons for infertility were not different between the groups. Despite higher embryo quality in group 1 than in group 2 (60.3 vs. 51.6), clinical (63.0% vs. 62.7%) and ongoing (58.7% vs. 51.0%) pregnancy rates (PR) were not significantly different. Live birth rates (52.2% vs. 49.0%) were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnancy and live birth rates were not different between the two groups, suggesting that the common practice of lengthy (>or=6 weeks) P support of IVF pregnancies may be unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA.
authors.forename: Christine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Goudge
authors.forename: Theodore C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Damario
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D009821:Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004304:Dosage Forms; D009821:Oils; D011374:Progesterone