Human chorionic gonadotropin supplementation in recurring pregnancy loss: a controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficacy of hCG in the management of recurrent early pregnancy loss.

DESIGN

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING

Miscarriage Clinic, Women's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

SUBJECTS

Eighty-one women attending the miscarriage clinic with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss were randomized to receive hCG supplementation or placebo in early pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The success rate or live birth rate.

RESULTS

In women with regular menstrual cycles it was found that hCG had no beneficial effect, the pregnancy success rate being 86% in both groups. However, women with oligomenorrhea had a pregnancy success rate of 40% in the placebo group but a statistically significant improvement to 86% if hCG was given.

CONCLUSIONS

Human chorionic gonadotropin can be recommended for idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss in women with oligomenorrhea.