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

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes after intramuscular progesterone (IMP) or 8% Crinone vaginal gel for luteal support for day 3 cryopreserved embryo transfer (CET).

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study with multivariable analysis.

SETTING: Academic 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.