Phytoestrogens may improve the pregnancy rate in in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer cycles: A prospective, controlled, randomized trial

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 82; no. 6; pp. 1509 - 1513
• Main Authors: Unfer, Vittorio, Casini, Maria Luisa, Gerli, Sandro, Costabile, Loredana, Mignosa, Marcella, Di Renzo, Gian Carlo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.12.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Delivery, Obstetric; Drug Therapy, Combination; Embryo Implantation; Embryo Transfer; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Infertility, Female - therapy; Injections, Intramuscular; IVF-ET cycles; Luteal Phase; luteal phase support; Medical sciences; Phytoestrogens; Phytoestrogens - therapeutic use; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; progesterone; Progesterone - administration & dosage; Progesterone - therapeutic use; Prospective Studies; Tablets; luteal phase support; Phytoestrogens; IVF-ET cycles; progesterone; Human; Assisted procreation; Ovarian hormone; Cycle; Progestagen; In vitro fertilization embryo transfer; Pregnancy; Phytoestrogen; Luteal phase; Fertility; Phytestrogen; Clinical trial; Female; Phytohormone; Progesterone; Sex steroid hormone
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.07.934

To compare the effectiveness of IM P and IM P plus oral phytoestrogens for luteal phase support in patients undergoing IVF-ET cycles. Prospective, controlled, randomized trial. University Hospital, Perugia, Italy. Two hundred thirteen infertile patients undergoing IVF-ET were included in the study. The inclusion criteria were use of a GnRH agonist for pituitary down-regulation and age <40 years. The total number of cycles performed was 274. Patients were assigned to receive either IM P (50 mg daily) plus placebo or P (50 mg daily) plus phytoestrogen supplementation (1,500 mg daily) for luteal phase support starting from the evening of oocyte retrieval until either a serum pregnancy test result was negative or embryonic heartbeat was sonographically confirmed. The outcomes of IVF-ET were evaluated in both study groups in terms of implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate (PR), clinical PR, spontaneous abortion rate, and ongoing pregnancy/delivered rate. Statistically significant higher values for implantation rate, clinical PR, and ongoing pregnancy/delivered rate were recorded in the patients who received P plus phytoestrogens for luteal phase support in comparison with patients receiving P and placebo. Although the results of this study encourage the use of phytoestrogens for luteal phase support in patients undergoing IVF-ET program, more studies are necessary to support the hypothesis that phytoestrogens have a beneficial effect in IVF cycles.