Vaginal progesterone gel for luteal phase support in IVF/ICSI cycles: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether vaginal progesterone gel may result in similar or higher pregnancy rates compared with all other vaginal progesterone forms when used for luteal-phase support.


METHODS
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).


METHODS
Infertile women undergoing IVF or ICSI.


METHODS
Vaginal progesterone gel 90 mg once or twice daily versus any other vaginal progesterone form for luteal phase support.


METHODS
Clinical pregnancy rates.


RESULTS
Seven randomized controlled trials, involving 2,447 patients, were included in the analysis. No difference was observed in the overall clinical pregnancy rate when comparing vaginal progesterone gel with any other vaginal progesterone form. Moreover, clinical pregnancy rates were similar in protocols using only GnRH agonists and when comparing vaginal gel with the traditional treatment of 200 mg×3 vaginal progesterone capsules.


CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis provides solid evidence that no significant difference exists between vaginal gel and all other vaginal progesterone forms in terms of clinical pregnancy rates.
Polyzos
Nikolaos P
NP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece. n.polyzos@gmail.com
Messini
Christina I
CI
Papanikolaou
Evangelos G
EG
Mauri
Davide
D
Tzioras
Spyridon
S
Badawy
Ahmed
A
Messinis
Ioannis E
IE
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; D011374:Progesterone