Progesterone vaginal capsule versus vaginal gel for luteal support in normoresponder women undergoing long agonist IVF/ICSI cycles

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of two different vaginal progesterone forms, administered for luteal phase support, on pregnancy outcomes in normoresponder women aged < 35, who underwent long agonist IVF/ICSI-ET cycles.

Material and methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was designed. Normoresponders with primary infertility, who un­derwent IVF/ICSI-ET cycles employing GnRH analogue and who received progesterone as either capsule or gel form for LPS following a single embryo transfer, were analyzed. The cycles were categorized into two groups: micronized progesterone vaginal capsule 600 mg/day (Group 1, n = 78) and progesterone vaginal gel 180 mg/day (Group 2, n = 99). Positive β-hCG, clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates were analyzed.

Results: Both, demographic and stimulation characteristics were comparable between the groups. No difference was observed between the capsule and the gel groups regarding positive β-hCG (33.3% and 28.3%, respectively; p = 0.580), clinical pregnancy (26.9% and 22.2%, respectively; p = 0.584), and ongoing pregnancy rates (21.8% and 20.2%, respectively; p = 0.942) after treatment completion.

Conclusions: In long agonist IVF/ICSI-ET cycles, positive β-hCG, clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates do not significantly differ between normoresponder patients receiving micronized progesterone vaginal capsule and those receiv­ing progesterone vaginal gel for LPS.