Effects of phloroglucinol on uterine peristalsis after frozen embryo transfer in patients experiencing recurrent implantation failure: A retrospective case-control study

Abstract

Objective: To retrospectively investigate the efficacy of phloroglucinol administration after freeze-thawed embryo transfer in patients experiencing recurrent implantation failure (RIF).

Materials and methods: A total of 139 infertile couples who experienced RIF undergoing in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer were divided into the control (n = 66) and the phloroglucinol (n = 73) groups. Women in the phloroglucinol group received 80 mg phloroglucinol 30 min after transfer, then once daily up to day 3 after the embryo transfer. Those in the control group did not receive phloroglucinol.

Results: Administration of phloroglucinol was associated with significantly higher rates of positive pregnancy tests [52.1 % versus (vs) 30.3 %], clinical pregnancy (45.2 % vs 27.3 %), and live births (38.4 % vs 21.2 %) compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Notably, patients with uterine peristalsis exceeding 3 waves/min exhibited significant improvement in positive pregnancy tests (67.6 % vs 38.5 %), implantation (50 % vs 24.6 %), and clinical pregnancy rates (58.8 % vs 33.3 %) following phloroglucinol intervention (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Results suggested that the administration of phloroglucinol after frozen embryo transfer may improve pregnancy outcomes in patients who experienced RIF, primarily in those with uterine peristalsis >3 waves/min.

Keywords: Phloroglucinol; Repeated implantation failure; Uterine peristalsis.