Luteal support after assisted reproduction is typically given as micronized progesterone tablets. Researchers in Gothenburg, Sweden wanted to test progesterone gel against the micronized progesterone tablet for ease of use and pregnancy rates.
The study included 2057 participants younger than 40 years of age. Patients were given either micronized progesterone tablets or progesterone gel for luteal support for 19 days post assisted reproductive therapy or until a negative pregnancy test was recorded after day 14. Assisted reproductive therapies used in the study were in-vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
About 30% of women in the progesterone gel group and 33% of women in the micronized progesterone tablet group achieved on-going pregnancy. This showed no significant difference in pregnancy rates between the two groups. Ease of use was also recorded with 1 being the easiest and 10 being the hardest. The progesterone gel and micronized progesterone tablets were rated 2.9 and 4.8 for ease of use, respectively.
Conclusion: Researchers noted no significant difference in pregnancy rates between the two groups, but ease of use was clearly on the side of progesterone gel treatment.
Source: Bergh C, Lindenberg S; on behalf of the Nordic Crinone study group. A prospective randomized multicentre study comparing vaginal progesterone gel and vaginal micronized progesterone tablets for luteal support after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Hum Reprod. 2012 Sep 27.