The effect of luteal phase progesterone supplementation on natural frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of progesterone supplementation during the luteal phase on pregnancy outcome in natural frozen-thawed embyo transfer (FTET) cycles. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 228 consecutive patients who underwent FTET cycles between January 2009 and September 2012 were included. One hundred forty-five patients received luteal progesterone support (P group) but 83 patients did not receive any progesterone supplementation during luteal phase (control group). RESULTS: There were no differences in patients' characteristics between the two groups. The two groups were similar with respect to the characteristics of previous fresh in vitro fertilization cycle in which embryos were cryopreserved including the numbers of oocytes retrieved, mature oocytes, fertilized oocytes, grade 1 or 2 embryos and frozen embryos. Also, significant differences were not observed between the P and control groups in clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate and multiple pregnancy rate. However, miscarriage rate was significantly lower in the P group and live birth rate was significantly higher in the P group than in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that luteal phase progesterone supplementation decreases miscarriage rate and improves live birth rate in natural FTET cycles.