The significance of elevated progesterone at the time of administration of human chorionic gonadotropin may be related to luteal support.

Purpose: Our purpose was to determine if the progesterone concentration on the day of HCG administration is associated with the establishment of pregnancy in IVF patients.

Methods: Concentrations of progesterone on the day of hCG were examined retrospectively in 293 patients with ovarian hyperstimulation induced by GnRH agonist with hMG and/or FSH. Patients were grouped based on progesterone concentration: < 0.9, 0.9 to < 1.2, 1.2 to < 1.5, and > or = 1.5 ng/ml. Oocytes recovered, fertilization rate, and pregnancy rate were compared among groups.

Results: Patients with a higher concentration of progesterone had increased concentrations of estradiol and greater numbers of oocytes retrieved. No differences were found for fertilization rate, polyploid fertilization, or pregnancy rate. It was noted that there was an association between the type of luteal support and the effect of high preovulatory progesterone on pregnancy rate.

Conclusions: These data suggest that oocytes and embryos derived from patients with high preovulatory progesterone are not of a reduced quality. The association of high progesterone concentrations with a reduced rate of pregnancy varied with the type of luteal support.