Glucocorticoid administration during transfer of frozen-thawed embryos: a prospective, randomized study

Abstract

Objective: To establish whether there is any improvement in pregnancy and implantation rates after administration of "low-dose," long-acting glucocorticoids during transfer of cryopreserved-thawed embryos.

Setting: An IVF unit in a university hospital.

Design: Prospective, randomized study. Ninety-nine consecutive transfer cycles of frozen-thawed embryos to the uterine cavity of randomly chosen women diagnosed as having tubal factor infertility only. Fifty-two patients underwent transfer of frozen-thawed embryos and received 0.5 mg of dexamethasone; 47 women (control group) did not receive the drug during transfer.

Patients: Normal ovulatory patients with tubal factor infertility.

Interventions: Oral dexamethasone administration before, during and after transfer of thawed embryos.

Main outcome measures: Pregnancy and implantation rates.

Results: The pregnancy rate was 13.5% (7/52) in patients treated with the "low-dose" regimen of dexamethasone compared with 12.8% (6/47) in the control group. The implantation rate was similar.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that the use of 0.5 mg dexamethasone for an immuno-suppressive effect, administered for a short period to patients diagnosed as having "pure" tubal factor infertility, did not improve the implantation or pregnancy rates.