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Strategies for Ovulation Induction in Anovulatory Infertile Patients With PCOS

Comparison of Three Different Strategies for Treating Infertility in Anovulatory Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Multicentre Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00461643
Enrollment
552
Registered
2007-04-18
Start date
2007-01-31
Completion date
Unknown
Last updated
2013-04-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Anovulatory Infertility Related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Keywords

Anovulation, Clomiphene citrate, Infertility, Metformin, PCOS, RCT, Treatment

Brief summary

Anovulatory infertility is a common feature of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Even if several first-step treatments have been proposed for anovulatory infertile PCOS patients, very few data are available in literature regarding the best integrated strategy. In fact, a single compound could be effective as first-step approach but not or less useful when integrated in a more complex strategy. The goal of the current protocol will be to compare three different strategies for treating anovulatory infertility in PCOS patients having as primary end-point the multiple pregnancy rate.

Detailed description

All patients eligible will undergo baseline assessment consisting of antropometric, hormonal, and ultrasonographic assessments. Successively, patients enrolled will be allocated in three different strategies (strategy A, B, and C). A total of 184 infertile PCOS patients per arm will be enrolled and treated with three different integrated strategies: clomiphene followed by clomiphene plus metformin followed by gonadotropins (strategy A); metformin followed by metformin plus clomiphene followed by gonadotropins(strategy B); and metformin plus clomiphene followed by gonadotropins(strategy C). In all patients, the same regimen will be used to administered clomiphene, metformin, and gonadotropins.Both clomiphene and metformin will be administered at incremental doses in each case.Gonadotropins will be administrated to obtain a controlled ovarian stimulation using highly purified urinary FSH in a low-dose step-up protocol. During the study, the clinical and reproductive outcomes, and adverse experiences will be evaluated in each woman.

Interventions

DRUGClomiphene citrate, metformin, metformin plus clomiphene citrate, gonadotropins

Sponsors

University Magna Graecia
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Polycystic ovary syndrome (using ESHRE/ARSM 2004 criteria)

Exclusion criteria

* Age \<18 or \>35 years * Severe obesity (BMI \>35) * Neoplastic, metabolic, hepatic, and cardiovascular disorders or other concurrent medical illnesses * Hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, Cushing's syndrome, and non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia * Current or previous (within the last six months) use of oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, antiandrogens, antidiabetic and anti-obesity drugs or other hormonal drugs * Previous use of ovulation induction agents * Intention to start a diet or a specific program of physical activity * No uterine bleeding after progesterone challenge test * Organic pelvic diseases * Previous pelvic surgery * Suspected peritoneal factor infertility * Tubal or male factor infertility or sub-fertility

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Multiple pregnancy rate9 months

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Ovulation rate15 months
Pregnancy rate15 months
Abortion rate15 months
Live-birth rate24 months
Adverse-events15

Countries

Italy

Contacts

Primary ContactStefano Palomba, MD
stefanopalomba@tin.it+39-0961.883234

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026