A Comparative Study of Intramuscular Oil Progesterone Injection and Suppository Progesterone for Luteal Phase Support in Patients Undergoing IUI CSycles

Supporting the luteal phase in patients undergoing Induction of ovulation together with intra uterine insemination (IUI) is routinely performed in some centers in Iran. This study was performed with the aim of comparing the effect of intra muscular progesterone injection and suppository progesterone for luteal phase support in these patients. This random prospective clinical trial was performed on 225 patients referred to Montaserieh infertility center affiliated to Mashhad university of medical sciences in year 2007. Patients undergoing induction of ovulation and IUI were randomly divided into two groups of treatment with 50 mg muscular progesterone injection (114 patients) and 400 mg vaginal suppository progesterone (111 patients) for luteal phase support. In patients whose serum βhCG was positive, their treatment course continued up to 12 weeks of gestation. Pregnancy rate, abortion and continuing of pregnancy were evaluated after 20th week of gestation. Data was analyzed using student t-test, exact Fisher, Mann-Whitney ad Chi square tests by SPSS 11.5 software. Pregnancy outcome were better in suppository progesterone treatment group (p=0.0008). In addition, low drug complications and abortions were reported in this group (p=0.000). Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in suppository progesterone treatment group (p=0.0000). The effect of suppository progesterone treatment was better in supporting luteal phase in patients with induction of ovulation and IUI, and it can be used due to lower complications and more patient satisfaction rate.