Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive age,
with an incidence of 5 -10%. Classically clomiphene citrate (CC) is the first approach to
induce ovulation in patients with PCOS. Although 70-80% of PCOS women can ovulate by the
treatment with CC, only 40%of the PCOS women become pregnant. Women who do not ovulate with
increasing doses of CC are described as being CC-resistant and remain a major challenge in
gynecologic endocrinology. Traditional alternatives for CC-resistant patients include
gonadotropin therapy and laparoscopic ovarian diathermy.
Gonadotropin therapy is widely used for ovulation induction in CC-resistant PCOS patients.
The use of purified FSH preparation virtually free of LH activity, is a recommendable
treatment since there is evidence that pure FSH may significantly reduce tonic LH levels,
favourably alter the intraovarian hormonal milieu, and promote the initial follicular
development with minimal risk of multiple follicular growth or ovarian hyperstimulation.
The use of metformin in PCOS is associated with cycle regulation, improved ovulation, and a
reduction in circulating androgen levels. Metformin likely plays its role in improving
ovulation induction in women with PCOS through a variety of actions, including reducing
insulin levels and altering the effect of insulin on ovarian androgen biosynthesis, theca
cell proliferation, and endometrial growth. In addition, potentially through a direct effect,
it inhibits ovarian gluconeogenesis and thus reduces ovarian androgen production.
Letrozole is an orally-active aromatase inhibitor, with good potential for ovulation
induction. Letrozole acts by reducing estrogen production by blocking androgens to estrogens
conversion. Additionally, it has no adverse effect on endometrium and cervical mucus (7).
This releases the pituitary from negative feedback of estrogens and releases FSH. Also, an
added positive effect is increased follicular sensitivity to FSH through amplification of FSH
receptor gene expression.
Hyper-insulinemia, which is closely associated with PCOS, is thought to be one of the
causative factors for CC resistance. The prevalence of insulin resistance in PCOS is close to
50%.
All women with clomiphene resistant PCOS attending the subfertility clinic of Cairo
university hospitals will be invited to participate in the study. PCOS diagnosis will be
based on chronic anovulation and sonographic picture of polycystic ovaries (10). Clomiphene
resistance will be defined as failure of ovulation in spite of receiving 150mg of clomiphene
citrate for 5 days during the menstrual cycle.
Exclusion criteria are age >40 years, other causes of infertility, hperprolactinaemia,
allergy to FSH or metformin, previous FSH or LOD therapy, and body mass index (BMI)>35.
The study will be explained to all the participants and a written informed consent will be
obtained before participation.
Full history will be taken followed by complete examination and sonographic evaluation.
Sonographic picture of polycystic ovaries will be defined when there are at least 12
follicles 2-9mm in the ovary and/or ovarian volume>10cm3 (10) 210 women with clomiphene
resistant PCOS will be randomly divided into 3 equal groups using computer generated random
numbers. Group 1 will receive FSH, group 2 will have Letrozole and group 3 will act as the
control group with no intervention.
Group 1 will receive urinary purified FSH (Fostimon® IBSA, Switzerland) 75IU daily for 7 days
starting from the 3rd day of menstruation or progesterone withdrawal bleeding. If the
follicle does not exceed 9mm the dose will be increased by 37.5IU every 7 days. The cycle
will be cancelled if no follicles exceed 9mm 4 weeks after starting FSH. Group 2 will receive
Letrozole (Femara®, Novartis, Switzerland) 2.5mg twice daily for 5 days starting from the 3rd
day of menstruation or progesterone withdrawal bleeding.
Group 3 will have regular progesterone withdrawal bleeding in the form of norethisterone
(stereonate® Hi Pharm, Egypt).
Serial vaginal ultrasound scans were done starting from the 10th day of menstruation, the
frequency of monitoring will be individualized according to the women's response. When the
dominant follicle reaches 17mm or more women will receive Human chorionic gonadotrophin
(Choriomon® IBSA, Switzerland) 5000IU and a timed intercourse will be advised 36 hours later.