Abstract
Objectives
The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of letrozole versus clomiphene citrate as an ovulation induction drug in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients of Indian origin.
Method
One hundred and forty seven infertile PCOS patients were randomly given letrozole (2.5 mg) (n = 69) or clomiphene (100 mg) (n = 78) from day 3 to day 7 of menstrual cycle, followed-up with transvaginal serial folliculometry from day 9. 10,000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered when at least 1 ovarian follicle was ≥ 18 mm in size.
Results
The pertinent results of the study are as follows: on the day of hCG injection, mean E2 level was significantly higher in the clomphene citrate group (817 ± 286.70 pg/ml) in comparison with letrozole group (444.03 ± 85.42 pg/ml). Mean endometrial development was 8.72 ± 1.41 mm in the letrozole and 8.78 ± 1.16 mm in the clomiphene group (P = 0.004).
Conclusion
Letrozole has beneficial effect on endometrium, thereby potentially increasing pregnancy rates after successful ovulation induction in women with PCOS.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge the patients of Eden Hospital for their co-operation and Department of Radiology for their assistance in serial folliculometry.
Conflict of interest
The authors hereby declare that they have not received any financial support for this study and there is no conflict of interest.
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Banerjee Ray, P., Ray, A. & Chakraborti, P.S. Comparison of efficacy of letrozole and clomiphene citrate in ovulation induction in Indian women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Arch Gynecol Obstet 285, 873–877 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2091-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-2091-7