Trial of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (Proluton Depot) in women with long-standing infertility; failure of estrogen positive feedback the following cycle

In open and double-blind studies 40 women with long-standing unexplained infertility were investigated and treated with 17α-hydroxy-progesterone caproate (17HPC, Proluton Depot). In the open study, 16 women with a high index of suspicious abortions were given 500 mg 17HPC imtramuscularly (i. m.) weekly for 6–16 weeks. Six of the women received the drug from a time preceding the expected date of a period; 2 of these conceived that cycle and their pregnancies continued to term, while 4 were not pregnant. Ten women (9 with definite previous abortions) were given 17HPC when they suspected (correctly) that they were pregnant. Their pregnancies continued to term in all but 1, who had a premature delivery (still-birth) at 34 weeks. In the double-blind study 24 women were given injections of 17HPC or placebo i. m. at weekly intervals, from about 4 days before the expected period (day -4), provided that the level of progesterone (Prog) (on days −9 to −7) was > 10 nmol/l. After placebo no delay in menstruation or d...