In frozen embryo transfer (FET), hormonal supplementation is used to prepare the endometrium for successful implantation in the absence of a functional corpus luteum (CL) and endogenous progesterone. Estrogen supplementation is followed by exogenous progesterone replacement. Progesterone use is mandatory to luteinize the endometrium and prepare for successful implantation to give a higher chance of pregnancy. For LPS, exogenous progesterone can be administered by different routes: vaginal, rectal, oral, intramuscular, and recently, the subcutaneous route. Each route has certain advantages and disadvantages. The new technological developments in the field of progesterone production allowed the SC aqueous progesterone to gain more hydro-soluble characteristics owing to the addition of β-cyclodextrin molecule producing a more absorbable product. Obviously, there is an increase in the degree of acceptance, continuation, and satisfaction for the SC progesterone injections as compared to the vaginal and IM routes of administration.
AIM OF THE WORK
To compare the use of intramuscular versus subcutaneous aqueous progesterone for the luteal phase support in artificially prepared frozen embryo transfer cycles regarding the serum progesterone levels on the day of embryo transfer and pregnancy outcome.