Objective: To compare the incidence and severity of local side effects of urinary-derived gonadotropins administered s.c. and i.m..
Design: Prospective randomized study of women undergoing IVF treatment.
Setting: Tertiary referral center for assisted reproduction.
Patient(s): A total of 71 patients were randomized to receive gonadotropins by the s.c. (n = 41) or i.m. (n = 30) route.
Intervention(s): One cycle of IVF with gonadotropins administered either s.c. or i.m. for ovarian stimulation.
Main outcome measure(s): Incidence and severity of local side effects, such as redness, itching, swelling, pain, and bruising.
Result(s): Pain was the most common side effect, with 55.3% and 70.1% of i.m. and s.c. injections, respectively, resulting in pain. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of itching or bruising after i.m. and s.c. injections. Although there was a higher incidence of redness and swelling in the s.c. group compared with the i.m. group, most cases were classified as mild.
Conclusion(s): There was a significantly higher incidence of some local side effects after s.c. gonadotropin administration but most of these were mild and well tolerated by patients.