Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
OP-IVM: Combining In vitro Maturation after Oocyte Retrieval with Gynecological Surgery
Published on: May 9, 2021
Vaginal progesterone gel for luteal phase support in IVF/ICSI cycles: a meta-analysis
Nikolaos P Polyzos1, Christina I Messini, Evangelos G Papanikolaou
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece. n.polyzos@gmail.com
Objective:
To investigate whether vaginal progesterone gel may result in similar or higher pregnancy rates compared with all other vaginal progesterone forms when used for luteal-phase support.
Design:
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Patient(S):
Infertile women undergoing IVF or ICSI.
Intervention(S):
Vaginal progesterone gel 90 mg once or twice daily versus any other vaginal progesterone form for luteal phase support.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Clinical pregnancy rates.
Result(S):
Seven randomized controlled trials, involving 2,447 patients, were included in the analysis. No difference was observed in the overall clinical pregnancy rate when comparing vaginal progesterone gel with any other vaginal progesterone form. Moreover, clinical pregnancy rates were similar in protocols using only GnRH agonists and when comparing vaginal gel with the traditional treatment of 200 mg×3 vaginal progesterone capsules.
Conclusion(S):
This meta-analysis provides solid evidence that no significant difference exists between vaginal gel and all other vaginal progesterone forms in terms of clinical pregnancy rates.
Related Concept Videos
01:24In Vitro Fertilization
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
01:21Intrauterine Drug Delivery Systems
01:27Ovarian Cycle
01:28Infertility in Females
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of endometrial...
01:30Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...