Luteal support with both estradiol and progesterone after clomiphene citrate stimulation for in vitro fertilization

To determine if pregnancy rates (PRs) for clomiphene citrate (CC)-stimulated IVF-ET can be increased by luteal support with E2 and P.

Prospective randomized crossover clinical study.

Infertile women volunteers in an academic research environment.

Ninety-three infertile women underwent a total of 143 IVF-ET cycle using CC for ovulation induction.

Each woman received either no luteal support (control group) or luteal support with both oral E2 (2 mg three times daily) starting on the day of retrieval and vaginal P suppositories (100 mg twice daily) starting on the day of ET.

Clinical PR.

In 79 of 143 (55%) of the cycles, at least one embryo was transferred. Compared with the control group (n = 35 cycles), the luteal support group (n = 44 cycles) had a significantly higher PR per retrieval (control: 2% versus luteal support: 16%) and were older (control: 33 +/- 4 versus luteal support: 35 +/- 4 years; mean +/- SEM). They did not differ in terms of E2 or P levels, endometrial thickness on the day of hCG, number of follicles > 16 mm in diameter, mature oocytes retrieved, or embryos transferred.

Luteal support with both E2 and P significantly increase the clinical PRs for CC-stimulated IVF-ET.