Dydrogesterone support following assisted reproductive technique (ART) reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia (PE) contributes to poor maternal morbidity and mortality. Progesterone is hypothesised to reduce the risk of PE.

To determine the effect of progestogen supplementation during assisted reproductive technique (ART) in reducing the incidence of PE.

A retrospective comparative analysis among 1140 pregnancies between January 2006 and March 2015 conducted in a tertiary centre. A total of 570 pregnancies who conceived following ART with progesterone supplementation (study group) and an age-matched spontaneous pregnancies, without progesterone supplementation (control group, n=570) were included in the analysis. The study group received progesterone support following ART or intrauterine insemination (IUI) until 14-16 weeks' gestation.

The rate of PE was significantly lower in the study group compared to control group (8.4% vs. 14.2%, p<0.05). Women supplemented with dydrogesterone only showed a lower PE incidence as compared to women received a combination of dydrogesterone and hydroxyprogesterone caproate, however, it was not statistically significant (6.9% vs. 9.9%; 6.9%; p=0.2).