Clomiphene Citrate or Letrozole for Ovulation Induction in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Prospective Randomized Trial

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-173
Author(s):  
Randhir Puri ◽  
Ahmed Badawy ◽  
Ibrahim Abdel Aal ◽  
Mohamed Abulatta

Objective To compare the effects of letrozole (5 mg) and clomiphene citrate (100 mg) for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Design Prospective randomized trial. Setting University teaching hospital and private practice setting. Patients The study comprised a total of 438 infertile women (1063 cycles) with PCOS. Intervention Patients were randomized to treatment with 5 mg of letrozole daily (218 patients, 545 cycles) or 100 mg of clomiphene citrate daily (220 patients, 518 cycles) for 5 days starting on day 3 of menses. Timed intercourse was advised 24 to 36 hours after hCG injection. Main Outcome Measure Number of follicles, serum estradiol, serum progesterone, endometrial thickness, and pregnancy and miscarriage rates. Results The mean age, parity, and duration of infertility in both groups were similar. The total number of follicles was statistically significantly greater in the clomiphene citrate group (6.8 _ 0.3 vs 4.4 _ 0.4). Endometrial thickness at the time of hCG administration was statistically significantly greater in the CC group (9.2 _ 0.7 mm vs 8.1 _ 0.2 mm). The duration to reach a dominant follicle was statistically significantly longer in the letrozole group (12.1_1.3 vs 8.8_2.9 days). Ovulation occurred in 365 out of 540 cycles (67.5%) in letrozole group and 371 out of 523 cycles (70.9%) without a statistically significant difference. Levels of serum estradiol and progesterone were statistically significantly higher in the clomiphene citrate group. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 15.1% in the letrozole group and 17.9% in the clomiphene citrate group without statistically difference between the groups. Conclusion The results of this study did not show any advantage to the use of letrozole over clomiphene citrate as a first-line treatment for induction of ovulation in women with PCOS (Fertil Steril_2009;92:849-52. _2009 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine).

Author(s):  
Nehad Maher Motit ◽  
Ayman Abdelaziz El-Dorf ◽  
Shahinaz Hamdy Elshourbagy ◽  
Manal Mostafa Abdullah

Background: Clomiphene citrate (CC) is still the traditional therapy used for inducing ovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Clomiphene resistance, which refers to persistence of anovulation after standard CC therapy, occurs in 15%–20% of patients. We aimed to compare between extended letrozole versus recombinant FSH in ovulation induction in cases of clomiphene resistant polycystic ovary Methods: Seventy women with PCOS were included then patients were equally randomized to receive one of the two drugs to be given over the next 3 months. In current study Group A: letrozole group 2.5 mg two tablets once daily for 10 days from day 2 of menses. Group B: Recombinant FSH 75 i.u s.c daily from day 2 for 5 days then monitoring dose according to folliculometry. Results: There was non-significant difference between two groups as regard FSH and LH but as regard Serum E2 (pg/mL) at day 5 of HCG administration there was significant higher in FSH recombinant group. There was insignificant difference between two groups as regard Ovulating, Number of follicles >18. There was insignificant difference between two groups as regard Size of dominant follicle, endometrial thickness at hCG (mm). OHSS, discontinuation due to OHSS, clinical pregnancy, multiple pregnancy and abortion was higher in FSH recombinant group but differences didn’t reach significance. Conclusions: There was non-significant difference between two groups in relation to ovulation, Number of follicles, Size of dominant follicle, Endometrial thickness at day of HCG injection however it was reported that OHSS, discontinuation due to OHSS, positive pregnancy test, was higher in FSH recombinant group but differences didn’t reach significance level.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-11
Author(s):  
Afsoon Zarei ◽  
Tahere Bahrami Shabahrami ◽  
Nasrin Dadras

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is among the important causes of infertility in young women. Premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge (PLS) is one of its complications. PLS can reduce the quality of oocytes and therefore decrease the success of intrauterine insemination (IUI). Letrozole, a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor, prevents LH surge. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effects of letrozole on preventing premature LH surge in clomiphene-resistant patients with PCOS undergoing IUI. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 131 patients who were developed with PCOS were selected for IUI cycle, divided into two groups randomly: control group (n=67) and letrozole group (n=64). Incidence of premature LH surge, pregnancy, abortion and ongoing pregnancy rate, endometrial thickness and number of follicles were measured in both groups. Results: No significant difference was seen between mean ages in the two groups; 11.9% of the control group and 21.9% of the letrozole group became pregnant (P =0.005); furthermore, premature LH surge was seen in 4.7% of the letrozole group and 8.9% of the control group (P =0.003). E2 and Endometrial thickness was higher in letrozole group; however, LH was significantly higher in the control group (P =0.026). Conclusion: Administration of letrozole in clomiphene-resistant patients with PCO undergoing IUI cycle can decrease the incidence of PLS. In addition, it can increase pregnancy rate significantly. Therefore, using letrozole is more reasonable in patients who have not responded to clomiphene or are hypersensitive. [GMJ.2015;4(3):104-11]


Author(s):  
Amitoj Athwal ◽  
Ratnabali Chakravorty ◽  
Dipanshu Sur ◽  
Rupam Saha

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of letrozole and clomiphene citrate (CC) in gonadotropin-combined for ovulation stimulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It was a prospective pilot study.Methods: This prospective trial included 124 patients of infertile women with PCOS. Letrozole dose of 5 mg/day (n = 65) or a CC dose of 100 mg/day (n = 59) was given on day 3 to day 7 of the menstrual cycle, combined with gonadotropin i.e. follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at a dose 75 IU every day starting on day 7 and continued to day 9. Main outcome measures were occurrence of ovulation, number of mature follicles, serum estradiol (E2) and endometrial thicknesses on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and pregnancy rates.Results: The clinical profile including mean age, duration of infertility, BMI, baseline FSH, LH and E2 of patients belonging to both groups were comparable. The numbers of mature follicles (4.3±0.3 vs. 2.9±0.7) were significantly higher in letrozole+FSH group. Serum E2 levels on the day of hCG (301.78±85.7 vs. 464.7±72.9 pg/mL) were significantly lower in the letrozole+FSH group. Significant differences were found in endometrial thickness measured on the day of hCG in letrozole+FSH group (p=<0.0001). The rate of ovulation was higher in letrozole+FSH group and it was marginally statistically significant (p=0.040). The rate of pregnancy was slightly greater in the letrozole+FSH group (17.85% versus 13.33%), although not statistically significant.Conclusions: Letrozole in combination with FSH appears to be a suitable ovulation inducing agent versus CC with FSH in PCOS. This combination may be more appropriate in patients who are particularly sensitive to gonadotropin.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Houju Fu ◽  
Yuanqiao He ◽  
Ying Gao ◽  
Yicun Man ◽  
Wukun Liu ◽  
...  

Although it is well known that acupuncture has beneficial effects on a variety of medical conditions especially in pain relief, nausea, and vomiting, it remains controversial whether it has positive impact on the female reproduction. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the following endometrial receptivity factors: the endometrial morphology, the hormone concentrations, and the protein expression of endometrial leukaemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) and osteopontin (OPN) could be improved by the acupuncture in clomiphene citrate(CC)-induced rat model during implantation period. Results showed that, compared with the CC group, glandular development advanced, the serum estradiol levels decreased significantly, and the glandular area and endometrial LIF and OPN expression were significantly higher in acupuncture group. There were no significant differences in serum progesterone levels, endometrial thickness, and stromal area between groups. These results suggest that acupuncture can improve certain aspects of endometrial receptivity in CC-induced rat model during implantation period, which might result in endometrial state better to female reproduction.


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