title: Luteal phase bleeding after IVF cycles: comparison between progesterone vaginal gel and intramuscular progesterone and correlation with pregnancy outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To compare luteal phase bleeding and pregnancy outcomes in normogonadotropic patients receiving progesterone vaginal gel (PVG) or intramuscular progesterone (IMP) injections.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, data from 270 patients (292 cycles) undergoing day-3 fresh embryo transfer were analyzed. PVG, 90 mg daily (170 cycles) or IMP, 50 mg daily (122 cycles) began at egg retrieval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Luteal phase bleeding was significantly more common in the PVG than the IMP group. No significant differences were observed in biochemical pregnancy or spontaneous abortion rates between the two groups. Patients who bled before the pregnancy test had significantly lower total and clinical pregnancy rates than non-bleeders. Total and ongoing pregnancy/delivery rates were higher in the PVG than IMP group, but did not achieve statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Luteal phase bleeding was more common in the PVG group than the IMP group, but pregnancy was successful in more patients in the PVG group. Luteal phase bleeding is prevented or delayed during IMP treatment, but patients who bled before the pregnancy test, whether using the gel or injected progesterone, had significantly reduced pregnancy rates compared with non-bleeders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jabara
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barnhart
authors.forename: Joan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Schertz
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patrizio