Comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of two vaginal progesterone formulations, Crinone 8% gel and Utrogestan capsules, used for luteal support.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and tolerability of two different types of vaginal progesterone (P), Crinone 8% gel (Fleet Laboratories Ltd., Watford, United Kingdom) and Utrogestan capsules (Laboratories Besins International, Paris, France), used for luteal support after in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING In Vitro Fertilization Polyclinic, Zagreb, Croatia. PATIENTS A total of 285 women aged < or =37 years undergoing IVF-embryo transfer treatment. INTERVENTIONS Patients were treated with either Crinone 8% vaginal P gel (90 mg) administered daily, or Utrogestan vaginal capsules (2 x 100 mg) administered three times daily. Progesterone was administered from the day of oocyte retrieval (day 0) to menses or, in a case of pregnancy, until week 12. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Clinical pregnancy rate. The tolerability and acceptability of both preparations were determined by a questionnaire given to patients. RESULTS The similar rates of clinical pregnancies (33.1% vs. 30.9%) [corrected] were obtained by using either Crinone 8% vaginal P gel or Utrogestan vaginal capsules. Overall tolerability and acceptability were significantly better in the Crinone group than in the Utrogestan group. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of the two vaginal P formulations was nearly the same, but the tolerability and acceptability of Crinone 8% gel were superior, in the opinion of patients.