Comparison of Intramuscular and Intravaginal Progesterone for Luteal Phase Support in IVF Cycles: a randomized clinical trial

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective:</strong> This research was designed to compare the effectiveness of intramuscular progesterone and vaginal progesterone to support luteal phase in IVF cycles. <br /><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> In this randomized clinical trial 182 infertile patients between 20-40 years old were selected for rapid ZIFT cycles. In order to support luteal phase Cyclogest suppository (400 mg BID) was used for 77 cases and the rest used intramuscular progesterone (100 mg daily). Pregnancy and abortion rates were compared between two groups.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> Chemical pregnancy rate (positive &szlig;-HCG) was %27.3 in Cyclogest group and %30.6 in intramuscular progestrone group (P = 0.7). Clinical pregnancy (gestational sac visible by transvaginal ultrasound) was observed in %22.1 of cases in Cyclogest group and %27.1 of cases in intramuscular progestrone group (P = 0.4). Ongoing pregnancy rate (fetal heart action visible by transvaginal ultrasound) was %15.6 in Cyclogest group and %18.8 in intramuscular progesterone group (P = 0.6).<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates were similar in vaginal and intramuscular progestrone groups.