Intrauterine administration of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin before embryo transfer on outcome of in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized clinical trial

ABSTRACT

The direct effect of hCG on the human endometrium was studied several times. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of intrauterine injection of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin [rhCG] before embryo transfer [ET]. In this randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, a total number of 182 infertile patients undergoing their first in vitro fertilization/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection [IVF-ICSI] cycles were randomly assigned to receive 250 micro g intrauterine rhCG [n=84] or placebo [n=98] before ET. The implantation and pregnancy rates were compared between groups. Patients who received intrauterine rhCG before ET had significantly higher implantation [36.9% vs. 22.4%; p=0.035], clinical pregnancy rates [34.5% vs. 20.4%; p=0.044] and ongoing pregnancy rate [32.1% vs. 18.4%; p=0.032] when compared to those who received placebo. The abortion [2.4% vs. 2.0%; p=0.929] and ectopic pregnancy rates [1.2% vs. 1.0%; p=0.976] were comparable between groups of rhCG and placebo, respectively. Intrauterine injection of 250 micro g of rhCG before ET significantly improves the implantation and pregnancy rates in IVF/ICSI cycles.