Luteal phase support in assisted reproduction cycles

Luteal phase support in assisted reproduction cycles BackgroundThe luteal phase in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles is insufficient and therefore supported with either progesterone, hCG or gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists.Luteal phase support improves implantation rates and thus pregnancy rates, but the ideal method is still unclear.Progesterone is most frequently used, hCG is known for the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), but is also widely used.GnRH agonists is a new method for luteal phase support.This is a summary of a meta-analysis published by the Cochrane Library (van der Linden et al., 2011) investigating luteal support in IVF/ICSI. MethodsThe authors searched electronic databases including the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE and conference abstracts in February 2011.Eligible reports were randomized trials of luteal phase support in IVF or ICSI investigating progesterone, hCG or GnRH agonist supplementation.Quasi-randomized trials and trials using frozen transfers or donor oocytes were excluded.Results were presented as risk differences (RDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).In each comparison live birth rate was the primary outcome, secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, OHSS and multiple pregnancy rate per women.