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Oral Versus Vaginal Progesterone in the Luteal Support in Cryo-warmed Embryo Transfer Cycles

Oral Dydrogesterone Versus Vaginal Progesterone in the Luteal Phase Support in Cryo-warmed Embryo Transfer Cycles: Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03619707
Enrollment
157
Registered
2018-08-08
Start date
2018-08-01
Completion date
2021-10-01
Last updated
2023-07-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Infertility, Sterility

Keywords

Luteal Phase Support, Cryo-warmed Embryo Transfer, Assisted Reproductive Technology

Brief summary

In IVF/ICSI cycles, the progesterone levels induced by ovarian stimulation are low, therefore the luteal phase is supported by progesterone. The use of progestogens in IVF is associated with an improvement in the live birth rate Standard protocol for luteal phase support has not yet been established. Currently vaginal progesterone is widely used, since the classic oral progesterone seems to result in a low bioavailability and a lower pregnancy rate. However, vaginal administration of progesterone is associated with vaginal irritation, discharge and bleeding. For all these reasons, there is a need for an effective, well tolerated, and safe treatment that can improve patient satisfaction and compliance. Many studies have observed similar pregnancy rate results with dydrogesterone and micronized vaginal progesterone. A new RCT including a total of 1143 patients by Tournaye, showed that dydrogesterone treatment had a similar safety profile to micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP) for luteal support as part of ART treatment. The crude pregnancy rates at 12 weeks were 37.6% and 33.1% in the dydrogesterone and MVP treatment groups respectively. Regarding the administration route of progesterone, intramuscular and transvaginal routes are the two conventional progesterone administration techniques. However, very few studies have compared the advantages of oral dydrogestrone with vaginal progesterone for luteal support in ART cycles. The objective of the investigator's study is to demonstrate the superiority of oral dydrogesterone (Duphaston) 10 over MVP (Utrogestan) used for luteal supplementation in cryo-warmed embryo transfer cycles. Upon consent, 224 patients women will be randomly allocated into either one of the study groups using a simple randomization method by computer-generated random numbers. Group I will receive the oral dydrogesterone, while group II will receive the vaginal microprogesterone.

Interventions

DRUGProgesterone

Patients will be randomly assigned during the treatment follow up, at the time of addition of progesterone to the regimen, following computerized random number generator in procedure, to one of the study groups. Patients will be aware of the allocated arm since the treatment drugs have different route of administration. Group I will receive the oral dydrogesterone, while group II will receive the vaginal microprogesterone.

Sponsors

American University of Beirut Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 38 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Normal uterine cavity * Normal Hormonal investigation: TSH,PRL,FBS * Frozen embryo transfer cycles: at least 2 embryos * Primary or secondary infertility: tubal occlusion, male factor, unexplained, endometriosis, ovarian factors… * Body mass index (BMI) ≥18 to ≤30 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

* Preexisting untreated medical condition (thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pulmonary conditions, cardiac condition…) * History of three or more consecutively failed In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycles after embryo transfer * History of three or more miscarriages * Previous allergy reactions to progesterone products

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Live births per embryo transferreduntil date of deliveryNumber of live births per number of embryos transferred

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Ongoing or Clinical pregnancy rate per started treatment cycle (CPR)20 weeks from Last Menstrual Period (LMP)The presence of a viable fetus at 20 weeks gestation or fetal heart beat on transvaginal ultrasound after 6-7 weeks of gestation
Implantation rate (IR)7 weeks from LMPNumber of intrauterine gestational sacs observed on transvaginal ultrasound divided by the number of transferred embryos
Miscarriage ratesFrom a positive pregnancy test till 12 weeks gestationPregnancy loss prior to 12 weeks of gestation
Multiple gestation rate6-7 weeks of gestationMore than one intra-uterine gestation sac at 6 weeks of gestation

Countries

Lebanon

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026