Effect of luteal phase support after ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of luteal phase support on clinical pregnancy and live birth rates after ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Methods: 579 cycles from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. Ovarian stimulation was performed with gonadotropins, and rHCG was used for ovulation triggering. All patients received IUI. 451 cycles were supported by receiving vaginal micronized progesterone capsules (142 cycles) or vaginal progesterone gel (309 cycles) whereas 128 cycles were not supported.

Results: Clinical pregnancy (20.6 versus 9.4%; p = 0.004) and live birth rates (14 versus 7%; p = 0.036) were higher for supported group than for unsupported group. Progesterone gel and micronized progesterone subgroups achieved similar clinical pregnancy and live birth rates (21.4 versus 19%, p = 0.567 and 14.2 versus 13.4%, p = 0.807; respectively).

Conclusions: Luteal phase support improved the success of IUI cycles affecting both clinical pregnancy and live birth rates when gonadotropins were used for ovulation induction. The use of vaginal progesterone gel or micronized progesterone significantly improves clinical pregnancy rates. The live birth rates were higher in the progesterone gel group, but were similar in the micronized progesterone group compared to the unsupported group.

Chinese abstract

目的：研究旨在评估促排卵和宫腔内人工授精（IUI）后黄体支持对临床妊娠率和活产率的影响。

方法：回顾分析2010至2013年的579个周期。均使用促性腺激素促卵泡发育，rHCG触发排卵，所有病人接受IUI。451个周期有黄体支持，其中142个周期使用阴道微粒化黄体酮，309个周期使用阴道黄体酮凝胶，128个周期无黄体支持。

结果：黄体支持组临床妊娠率(20.6% vs 9.4%，p=0.004)及活产率(14% vs 7%，P=0.036)均高于无黄体支持组。黄体酮凝胶组和微粒化黄体酮组的临床妊娠率(21.4% vs19%, p=0.567)和活产率(14.2%vs 13.4%, p=0.807)相似。

结论：如使用促性腺激素促排卵，黄体支持将通过影响临床妊娠率和活产率提高IUI的成功率。使用阴道黄体酮凝胶和微粒化黄体酮显著提高临床妊娠率。与无黄体支持组相比，黄体酮凝胶组的活产率稍高一些，但与微粒化黄体酮组相似。

• Clinical pregnancy
• intrauterine insemination
• live birth
• luteal support
• progesterone