Comparison of pregnancy rates with intramuscular and vaginal progesterone use for luteal phase support in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the pregnancy rates of intramuscular and vaginal progesterone use for luteal phase support in in vitro fertilization -intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer cycles done with gonadotropin releasing hormone analogs. Material and Methods: Sixty six patients undergoing in vitro fertilization -intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation were included. Thirty two patients were supplemented with vaginal gel (90 mg daily) and thirty four patients with intramuscular progesterone (50 mg daily) starting at the day on oocyte retrieval. 20 mIU/mL or above was considered positive for beta-hCG. Positive beta-hCG, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were compared among these groups. Results: In women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer, vaginal progesterone supplementation once a day beginning the day after oocyte retrieval resulted in comparable rates of positive beta-hCG, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates with women supplemented with intramuscular progesterone. Conclusion: The results of vaginal progesterone administration were similar with the results obtained with intramuscular progesterone. Vaginal progesterone use is a more tolerable method for patients. [Cukurova Med J 2016; 41(4.000): 639-647]