The effect of diclofenac and paracetamol on pregnancy and implantation rates in infertile women undergoing IVF treatment

Summary

We set out to assess the effect of diclofenac on implantation rates, when administered as analgesia following transvaginal oocyte recovery. This was a prospective study of infertile women undergoing IVF treatment in a University Hospital. Subjects (n = 74) were divided in two groups (A and B). Group A (n = 38) received 1 g paracetamol and 100 mg diclofenac and group B (n = 36) received 1 g paracetamol only. All the medication was administered rectally immediately after the oocyte retrieval. Pregnancy and implantation rates were compared between group A and B using the χ² test. In groups A and B, the implantation rates were 12.4% and 9.6% (p = 0.5) and the pregnancy rates were 28.9% and 19.4%, respectively (p = 0.67). Neither pregnancy nor implantation rates differed significantly between the two groups. Administration of diclofenac to patients at the time of egg collection does not appear to affect implantation or pregnancy rates, while it could be effective in reducing discomfort and pain associated with oocyte retrieval.