Intramuscular progesterone versus 8% Crinone vaginal gel for luteal phase support for day 3 cryopreserved embryo transfer

ObjectiveTo compare outcomes after intramuscular progesterone (IMP) or 8% Crinone vaginal gel for luteal support for day 3 cryopreserved embryo transfer (CET).DesignRetrospective cohort study with multivariable analysis.SettingAcademic medical center.Patient(s)All autologous and donor egg in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients who had a day 3 CET from January 1, 2008, to April 30, 2011, with luteal support using 25–50 mg/d IMP or 8% Crinone twice daily, initiated 3 days before the CET.Intervention(s)None.Main Outcome Measure(s)Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates per CET.Result(s)IMP (n = 440) and Crinone (n = 298) recipients were similar for all demographic characteristics and cycle parameters assessed. Although implantation rates did not differ significantly between the two groups (Crinone vs. IMP: 19.6% vs. 30.4%), women supplemented with Crinone had significantly lower rates of clinical pregnancy (36.9% vs. 51.1%) and live birth (24.4% vs. 39.1%) compared with those on IMP.Conclusion(s)We observed that day 3 CET cycles with 8% Crinone luteal support had a 44% and 49% lower odds of clinical pregnancy and live birth, respectively, compared with those with IMP support. Further studies are required to identify the optimal timing and dose of 8% Crinone vaginal gel for use in CET cycles. To compare outcomes after intramuscular progesterone (IMP) or 8% Crinone vaginal gel for luteal support for day 3 cryopreserved embryo transfer (CET). Retrospective cohort study with multivariable analysis. Academic medical center. All autologous and donor egg in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients who had a day 3 CET from January 1, 2008, to April 30, 2011, with luteal support using 25–50 mg/d IMP or 8% Crinone twice daily, initiated 3 days before the CET. None. Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates per CET. IMP (n = 440) and Crinone (n = 298) recipients were similar for all demographic characteristics and cycle parameters assessed. Although implantation rates did not differ significantly between the two groups (Crinone vs. IMP: 19.6% vs. 30.4%), women supplemented with Crinone had significantly lower rates of clinical pregnancy (36.9% vs. 51.1%) and live birth (24.4% vs. 39.1%) compared with those on IMP. We observed that day 3 CET cycles with 8% Crinone luteal support had a 44% and 49% lower odds of clinical pregnancy and live birth, respectively, compared with those with IMP support. Further studies are required to identify the optimal timing and dose of 8% Crinone vaginal gel for use in CET cycles.