A retrospective comparative study of prednisolone use in antagonist co-treated assisted reproductive technology cycles for patients with good prognosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of peri-implantation prednisolone use and its duration in antagonist co-treated assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles of patients with good prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Infertile patients treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol between January 2010 and June 2013 were included. The patients in group A (n=196) received no prednisolone. The patients in groups B (n=397) and C (n=371) received 5 mg oral prednisolone daily, for 4 and 12 days following embryo transfer, respectively. The main outcome parameter was live birth rate. RESULTS: The ages of the groups were 30.1±4.6, 31.5±4.5, and 30.9±4.7 years, respectively (p=0.163). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding cycle characteristics. Implantation rates were 20.7%, 24.6%, and 23.8%, respectively (p=0.163). Miscarriage rates were 1.5%, 3.5%, and 3.2%, respectively (p=0.859). Live birth rates were 28.7%, 29.3%, and 32.8%, respectively (p=0.482). CONCLUSION: Empiric prednisolone administration during the peri-implantation period does not seem to have beneficial effects in ART cycles of patients with good prognosis.