Matched-samples comparison of intramuscular versus vaginal progesterone for luteal phase support after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer²

METHODS

Trial type: retrospective matched samples comparative study

Participants: 240 patients undergoing IVF-ET

Main outcome measures: clinical intrauterine pregnancy rates, pregnancy loss, and live birth rates

Comparator agents: Endometrin^® (100 mg vaginal progesterone tablets; marketed as Lutigest^® in the UK) twice daily (n = 12), 100mg three times daily (n = 11), Crinone^® 90mg 8% gel daily (n = 17) and 50 mg IM progesterone in oil daily (n=200).

RESULTS

Among patients using vaginal progesterone, there were no statistically significant differences in patient characteristics and clinical outcomes, regardless of the type of vaginal progesterone used. There were no differences in outcomes between the vaginal and IM progesterone treatment groups. There were 20 pregnancies (50.0%) among patients treated with vaginal progesterone and 103 pregnancies (51.5%) among matched IM progesterone patients. The live birth rates were 47% in the IM versus 47.5% in the vaginal progesterone groups. There were no statistically significant differences in miscarriage rates between groups.

CONCLUSION

There are no significant differences in treatment outcomes between vaginal and IM progesterone supplementation, yielding similar clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth rates.

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