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.