Intrauterine injection of HCG before embryo transfer: a parallel, double-blind randomized trial.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does intrauterine administration of HCG before embryo transfer improve live birth rate during IVF cycles? DESIGN: A parallel, randomized controlled trial conducted between July 2018 and February 2020. Infertile women (n = 181) scheduled for fresh or vitrified-warmed embryo transfer after IVF carried out for any indication were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either HCG (500 IU in 0.1 ml of tissue culture media) or culture media (0.1 ml of tissue culture media) via intrauterine injection 4 min before embryo transfer. In both groups, an intrauterine insemination catheter was used for administering the medication. Primary outcome was live birth, with ongoing pregnancy and clinical pregnancy as secondary outcomes. Analysis was based on intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Baseline and cycle characteristics were comparable between the two groups. In the control group, one woman with a confirmed clinical pregnancy was lost to follow-up. Live birth rates were 24% (22/90) in the HCG group versus 19% (17/90) in the control group (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.74 to 2.27). Clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates were 34% versus 26% (RR 1.31, 95% CI 0.84 to 2.04) and 24% versus 19% (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.74 to 2.27) in the HCG and the control groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intrauterine injection of HCG before embryo transfer did not improve live birth rates in women undergoing IVF. As the study was designed to detect a 20% difference between groups, a smaller, clinically important difference could not be ruled out. Treatment outcomes were lower than expected in the control group.

Vaginal misoprostol prior to intrauterine device insertion in women delivered only by elective cesarean section: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to evaluate if vaginal misoprostol (400 mcg) administered prior to intrauterine device (IUD) insertion increases the ease and success of insertion among women who had delivered only by elective cesarean delivery (CD). STUDY DESIGN: The current study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Assiut Women's Health Hospital, Egypt, between the 1st of April 2015 and the 31st of March 2016 and included women who delivered only by elective CD. One hundred forty women were randomized into two groups; misoprostol group received two misoprostol 400-mcg tablets vaginally, and placebo group received two placebo tablets 3 h before a copper T380A IUD insertion. The primary outcome measure was the difference in the ease of insertion score using a 10-cm visual analog scale between both groups with 0=very easy insertion, and 10=terribly difficult insertion. RESULTS: The ease of insertion score was lower in the misoprostol group (2.2±0.5 vs. 4.2±0.5, p=.0001) with higher number of successful IUD insertions than the placebo group (69 [98.6%] vs. 61 [87.1%], p=.009). The mean pain score reported by the women was lower in misoprostol group (2.7±0.6 vs. 4.3±0.8) with higher level of satisfaction from the whole procedure (8.9±0.4 vs. 7.9±0.2) with p=.001 for both. CONCLUSIONS: Misoprostol 400 mcg vaginally prior to IUD insertion eases and increase the success of insertion with reduction of pain among women who had delivered only by elective CD. IMPLICATIONS: The use of vaginal misoprostol before IUD insertion in women who had never delivered vaginally before may increase the ease and success of insertion. Moreover, it may reduce the pain felt by women during the procedure.