Support of the luteal phase in in vitro fertilization programs: results of a controlled trial with intramuscular Proluton

Abstract

There is disagreement among in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs as to the need to administer exogenous progesterone to support the luteal phase of patients undergoing embryo transfer after IVF. We examined the effect on pregnancy rates of Proluton, 50-mg daily injections given on days 7-16 following oocyte recovery, in 186 women undergoing IVF treatment using a combined stimulation regime of clomiphene and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG). One group was deliberately selected for treatment on the possible criterion of luteal-phase deficiency and two other groups were randomly selected into a treatment and a control group. No effect on pregnancy rate was noted in any of these groups. These results indicate that extension of the luteal phase with exogenous progesterone is unlikely to have a significant effect on increasing the pregnancy rate in IVF programs using similar treatment regimes.