The effect of luteal-phase support with vaginal progesterone on pregnancy rates in gonadotropin and clomiphene citrate/intra-uterine insemination cycles in unexplained infertility: A prospective randomised study.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the effect of luteal-phase support on pregnancy rates in gonadotropin + intra-uterine insemination (Gn/IUI) and clomiphene citrate (CC) +IUI (CC/IUI) cycles in patients with unexplained infertility. Equal numbers of patients were recruited in two treatment arms (CC/IUI and Gn/IUI) (n = 100, n = 100, respectively). In each group, 50 patients received vaginal progesterone for 14 days (Crinone 8% vaginal gel, 90 mg per day) for luteal-phase support from the day after IUI and continued until menstruation or the 10th week of gestation if pregnant. There were 29 clinical pregnancies among 200 patients. Pregnancy rates were 12% in CC/IUI cycles, 10% in luteal-phase-supported CC/IUI cycles 16% in Gn/IUI cycles and 20% in luteal-phase-supported Gn/IUI cycles. Although pregnancy rates were higher in Gn/IUI cycles compared to CC/IUI cycles, luteal-phase support did not significantly affect the pregnancy rates in both groups. This study implies that luteal-phase support with progesterone has no pronounced beneficial effect on pregnancy rates in either CC/IUI or Gn/IUI cycles in patients with unexplained infertility.

Finding the best formula to predict the fetal weight: comparison of 18 formulas.

BACKGROUND: To compare the accuracy of 18 formulas in predicting fetal weight and also to make a comparison of these formulas in low-birth-weight fetuses (<2,500 g) and in fetuses weighing >4,000 g. METHODS: Four-hundred-and-ninety-five pregnant patients were enrolled. The estimated fetal weight was calculated using 18 different formulas. The mean percentage error, the mean absolute percentage error and reliability analysis were used to compare the performance of the formulas. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha was the highest in the formulas Hadlock I (0.977 (95% CI = 0.972-0.980)), Hadlock III (0.977 (95% CI = 0.972-0.980)) and Ott (0.975 (95% CI = 0.970-0.979)) in all fetuses. It was the highest in formulas Ott (0.383 (95% CI = 0.091-0.581)), Hadlock IV (0.371 (95% CI = 0.074-0.572)) and Combs (0.369 (95% CI = 0.071-0.571)) in fetuses >4,000 g. It was the highest in formulas Coombs (0.957 (95% CI = 0.940-0.569)), Ott (0.956 (95% CI = 0.939-0.968)) and Hadlock IV (95% CI = 0.956 (0.938-0.968)) in fetuses <2,500 g. CONCLUSION: We noted that formulas Hadlock I, Hadlock III and Ott may be used to predict the estimated fetal weight accurately in all fetuses in our study. Formulas Ott, Hadlock IV and Coombs may be preferred to predict EFW in fetuses <2,500 g and >4,000 g. Better formulas should be developed to predict the fetal weight in fetuses >4,000 g.