Antiestrogenic effect of clomiphene citrate in a multiple follicular stimulation protocol

[Which ovarian stimulation to which women: The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)]

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent pathology in the young woman, linking infertility to a metabolic disease. Initial support will include a plan (in the case of overweight or obesity) to lose at least 5 to 10% of the weight. Subsequently, clomiphene citrate is the first treatment for ovulation induction with pregnancy rates of 40 to 80% after 6 cycles. If there is resistance to clomiphene citrate, the choice will be between the ovarian drilling (50-60% of pregnancy in the year following, including the half spontaneous) or ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins. The risk of ovarian stimulation in these women is hyperstimulation and multiple pregnancies. We also discuss the place of the GnRH pulsatile administration, insulin-sensitizers, in vitro fertilization and in vitro maturation in these women. Once infertility support, these women should be long-term followed because of the neoplasic and cardiovascular risks they present.

Anastrozole single-dose protocol in women with oligo- or anovulatory infertility: results of a randomized phase II dose-response study

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of anastrozole and clomiphene citrate (CC) on follicular development and ovulation in infertile women with ovulatory dysfunction.

DESIGN

Phase II, prospective, randomized, assessor-blind, multicenter, dose-finding, noninferiority study.

SETTING

Outpatient.

PATIENT(S)

Infertile women with ovulatory dysfunction, aged 18-35 years, and body mass index <35 kg/m(2).

INTERVENTION(S)

Single-dose anastrozole at 5 mg (n = 39), 10 mg (n = 39), 20 mg (n = 39), or 30 mg (n = 38) or a 5-day course of CC at 50 mg/d (n = 39) as starting doses.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The primary endpoint was the ovulation rate in the first treatment cycle (cycle 1). Ovulation was defined as a midluteal phase serum P level ≥ 10 ng/mL or clinical pregnancy.

RESULT(S)

In cycle 1 the ovulation rates for a single dose of anastrozole at 5, 10, 20, and 30 mg were 46.2%, 41.0%, 23.1%, and 28.9%, respectively, whereas that for CC at 50 mg/d was 61.5%. Among women with fewer than six menses per year, the cumulative ovulation rates over three cycles were comparable in the anastrozole 5 mg (52.4%) and CC 50 mg/d (42.3%) groups.

CONCLUSION(S)

In terms of ovulation rates in cycle 1, single-dose anastrozole at 5, 10, 20, and 30 mg was not as effective as CC at 50 mg/d for 5 days (noninferiority was not shown).

Treatment-associated serum FSH levels in very poor responders to ovarian stimulation

PURPOSE

To compare treatment-associated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) response in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with either microdose flare (MDF) leuprolide acetate or clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin (CC/hMG).

METHODS

Thirteen patients who were deemed poor responders underwent stimulation with one of two poor responder stimulation protocols (MDF group: n = 8; CC/hMG group: n = 5). Serum FSH, estrone (E1), estrone sulfate (E1S), and estradiol (E2) levels were measured at baseline, day 5 of medication, and on day of hCG administration. Ovarian and uterine responses were evaluated by ultrasound.

RESULTS

Treatment-associated FSH levels were consistently higher in the group that took CC/hMG. However, serum E1, E1S, and E2 values were similar in both groups as were the number of oocytes retrieved and the endometrial echo complex. There were no differences between the two groups with regards to the quality of the oocytes obtained, fertilization rate, or the quality of the embryos.

CONCLUSION

Clomiphene citrate, when administered in conjunction with exogenous hMG, is a more potent stimulator of FSH production than MDF leuprolide acetate among poor responders to ovarian stimulation. However, the number of oocytes is not increased.

Cervical mucus score and in vitro sperm mucus interaction in spontaneous and clomiphene citrate cycles

OBJECTIVE

Assessment of the effects of clomiphene citrate (CC) on cervical mucus score and in vitro sperm mucus interaction.

DESIGN

Prospective study of cervical mucus score and in vitro sperm mucus interaction in a spontaneous cycle followed by a CC cycle to compare paired data.

SETTING

Tertiary institutional infertility clinic.

PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-two couples with primary unexplained infertility were studied in both cycles.

INTERVENTIONS

Clomiphene citrate (150 mg) on days 5 to 9 in CC cycles.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cervical mucus score and sperm-mucus penetration test score.

RESULTS

Mean cervical mucus score in spontaneous cycles was 9.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.4 to 10.2) and in CC cycles 5.6 (95% CI 4.6 to 6.6), P less than 0.0001. Sperm-mucus penetration test score in spontaneous cycles was 11.4 (95% CI 7.6 to 15.2) and in CC cycles 3.9 (95% CI 1.17 to 6.63), P less than 0.01.

CONCLUSIONS

Clomiphene citrate has an adverse effect on both cervical mucus score and sperm-mucus penetration.

Super high estradiol response to gonadotropin stimulation in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization

The likelihood of establishment of a term pregnancy from in vitro fertilization (IVF) is related to the estradiol (E2) pattern and peak level. To examine the influence of super high E2 peak levels (greater than or equal to 2000 pg/ml), we reviewed the clinical outcomes of all IVF cycles with follicular phase E2 levels greater than 2000 pg/ml from May 1982 through June 1987. Among 1651 IVF cycles initiated during this time, 102 cycles (6.2%) had super high E2 levels. Twenty-seven of these cycles occurred in 34 IVF attempts in 12 women. Stimulation was performed with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) in 96 cycles and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in 6 cycles. A mean of 9.3 +/- 0.7 oocytes per cycle was recovered, of which 5.5 +/- 0.5 fertilized and underwent cleavage. In 11 cycles, with a mean of 6.8 oocytes recovered, none fertilized. Polyploid fertilization occurred in 23 of 90 cycles (25.6%), and 40 of 558 fertilized oocytes (7.2%). From these cycles, 10 clinical pregnancies (9.8%) have resulted: 6 pregnancies in 59 cycles with luteal-phase progesterone support (10.2%) and 4 pregnancies in 31 cycles without luteal-phase progesterone support (12.9%). Among the 1549 cycles with peak E2 levels less than or equal to 2000 pg/ml, 143 (9.2%) resulted in clinical pregnancies. We conclude that there is a small subset of patients who will have super high E2 responses to gonadotropin stimulation and that there is a tendency to stimulate repetitively in this fashion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Spontaneous luteinizing hormone surge and cleavage of in vitro fertilized embryos

The importance of monitoring luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion during gonadotropin stimulation remains controversial. In the present study, the authors evaluated the occurrence of spontaneous LH surges in 170 cycles stimulated by clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin, and correlated the success rate of embryo cleavage to the time interval between the occurrence of the LH surge peak value and the time of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. LH was quantitated from urine by an avidin-biotin enzyme immunoassay. The results indicated that a spontaneous LH surge occurred in 18% of the cycles. The number of oocytes recovered was not affected by the occurrence of a spontaneous LH surge. In 12% of all cases, the spontaneous LH surge occurred less than 12 hours before the administration of hCG, and in these cases embryo cleavage was not reduced. In 6% of all cases, the spontaneous LH surge occurred over 12 hours before hCG administration, and in these cases embryo cleavage was reduced significantly.

Comparison of human menopausal gonadotropin, clomiphene citrate, and combined human menopausal gonadotropin-clomiphene citrate stimulation protocols for in vitro fertilization

Human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) and clomiphene citrate (CC), either alone or in combination, are frequently used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in an attempt to maximize the number of oocytes recovered and the number of embryos transferred. However, direct comparison of the relative efficacy of these protocols in the same institution has been limited. To evaluate this question, the authors examined the outcome of 304 consecutive women attempting IVF. One hundred eighty-one women received hMG, 42 received CC, and 81 received combination hMG/CC. The percentages of women undergoing laparoscopy were not different among the groups (69%, 71%, and 74%, respectively), nor were the rates of oocyte recovery (94%, 100%, and 100%). However, the percentage of women achieving oocyte fertilization (77%, 83%, and 93%) and embryo transfer (73%, 83%, and 90%) were significantly greater among those who had received hMG/CC stimulation. A comparison of hMG/CC with hMG and CC cycles revealed a statistically significant increase in the total number of developing follicles (4.5 +/- 0.3, 3.3 +/- 0.2, and 3.1 +/- 0.3, respectively; P = 0.0137), total oocytes recovered (4.1 +/- 0.3, 3.2 +/- 0.2, and 2.5 +/- 0.2; P = 0.0011), and embryos transferred (2.2 +/- 0.2, 1.4 +/- 0.2, and 1.4 +/- 0.2; P = 0.0013). However, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of ongoing pregnancies. Thus, in terms of the per-patient number of follicles, oocytes, and embryo transfers, combined hMG/CC stimulation appears to be superior to either hMG or CC alone. However, to date the combined regimen has not improved pregnancy rates.