The impact of luteal phase support on pregnancy rates in intrauterine insemination cycles: a prospective randomized study

THE IMPACT OF LUTEAL PHASE SUPPORT ON PREGNANCY RATESIN INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION CYCLES: A PROSPECTIVERANDOMIZED STUDYThe purpose of this prospective randomised study is to determine the effect ofluteal phase support in COH/ IUI cycles stimulated using gonadotropins on pregnancyrates in an unexplained infertility population.The average length of luteal phase was 11.8 (8-15). Pregnancy rate was % 34.6per patient and % 19.2 per cycle in whole population. Pregnancy rates per patient and percycle were as % 44.9 and % 24.6 and % 23.8 and % 13.4, in study and control group,respectively and the differences between two groups were statistically significant.Pregnancy loss rate was % 32 in whole study population. There was no significantdifference between the abortion rates of control and study groups (% 32.1 and % 32.7,p>0.05). Multiple pregnancy rate was 9.7% when all clinical pregnancies per cycle wereconsidered.There were no statistically significant differences in pregnancy rates, clinicalpregnancy rates and ongoing pregnancy rates in patients using different gonadotropins(p>0.05). There were also no statistically significant differences in pregnancy rates,clinical pregnancy rates and ongoing pregnancy rates in patients using only recombinantgonadotropins (p>0.05).Pregnancy rates, clinical pregnany rates and ongoing pregnancy rates werecompared between study and control groups in cycles that only recFSH was used and itwas found that pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates weresignificantly in study group.In conclusion, this study showed that the luteal phase support by progesterone, haspositive effects on pregnancy rates in COH/ IUI cycles which was stimulated usinggonadotropins.