Does Supporting the Luteal Phase With Progesterone Only Without Estradiol Can Affect the Pregnancy Outcome in In-Vitro Fertilization Cycles?

Abstract
Background: It is well established that luteal support with progesterone improves implantation in IVF cycles. Unfortu-nately, there are conflicting reports regarding the value of luteal phase estradiol supplementation on pregnancy rates.
Aim of Study: To compare the pregnancy rate if we use progesterone only versus the use of progesterone and estradiol as a luteal phase support in IVF cycles.
Study Design and Setting: A prospective randomized clinical trial.
Patients and Methods: This study has been carried out in Tanta University Hospital in co-ordination with private IVF centers in the period from October 2017-to June 2018.
This study included 60 women divided into two group:
•Group I consists of 30 patients who received vaginal admin-istration of progesterone supplementation in the form of 400mg prontogest twice a day.
•The second group consists of 30 patient in which 2mg estradiol valerate twice daily with prontogest suppositories has been used.
Results: The findings suggest that the pregnancy rate is higher with the estrogen and progesterone supplementation than the progesterone only supplementation in both groups who have used GnRH agonist or antagonist controlled ovarian stimulation protocol but it has not reached a statistically significant value.
Conclution: Supplementary administration of E2 to p for luteal phase support may be beneficial for better IVF outcome and it warrants further investigation.