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Letrozole Versus Chinese Herbal Medicine on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

The Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Letrozole on Live Birth in Infertile Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01431352
Enrollment
420
Registered
2011-09-09
Start date
2009-09-30
Completion date
2014-08-31
Last updated
2013-11-05

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

Conditions

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Keywords

Polycystic ovary syndrome, Randomized controlled trial, Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese herbal medicine granules, Letrozole, Live birth

Brief summary

This is a multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 420 anovulatory Chinese women with PCOS will be recruited, and the randomization will be stratified by each participating site. Participants will be randomized into one of the two treatment arms: letrozole and CHMG or letrozole and CHMG placebo. CHMG or its placebo will be taken twice a day for up to six months. Letrozole (2.5 mg daily) was given on days 3-7 of the menstrual cycle after a spontaneous period or withdrawal bleeding, and the dose will be increased to 5.0 mg daily during the last three months for non-pregnant women in both groups.The aim of the present study is to determine the efficacy of combined treatment with letrozole and CHMG on improving live birth rates in infertile Chinese women with PCOS. Our hypothesis is that the combination of letrozole and CHMG is more likely to increase the ovulation rate and decrease the miscarriage rate and result in a higher live birth rate in PCOS women than letrozole alone.

Interventions

DRUGLetrozole

2.5 mg letrozole daily from day 5 of the menses for 5 days for month 1 to 3, 5.0 mg letrozole daily from day 5 of the menses for 5 days for month 4 to 6.

DRUGChinese herbal medicine granules or Chinese herbal medicine granules placebo

twice a day for 6 month

Sponsors

Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
20 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Chinese women with PCOS. PCOS must have been diagnosed based on the presence of two of the following three Rotterdam criteria : (1) oligomenorrhea, anovulation; (2) hyperandrogenism; and (3) the observation of polycystic ovaries by sonography. Oligomenorrhea is defined as an intermenstrual interval \>35 days or \<8 menstrual bleedings in the past year. Amenorrhea is defined as an intermenstrual interval \>90 days. 2. History of at least one year of infertility. 3. Age between 20 and 40 years old. 4. Normal semen analysis based on World Health Organization criteria (2010). The husband did not need to sign the consent form because semen analysis is part of the clinical assessment at the sites. A sperm concentration ≥15 × 106/mL and total motility ≥40% in the semen analysis of the husband was required for the woman to be included. 5. Normal uterine cavity and at least one tube patent upon hysterosalpingography or HyCoSy.

Exclusion criteria

1. History of significant system diseases such as heart, lung, or kidney diseases. 2. History of other endocrine disorders. 3. Use of hormonal therapy, including metformin, in the past 3 months. 4. Previous sterilization procedures (vasectomy or tubal ligation) that have been reversed.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Live birth rateUp to 2 years

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Miscarriage rateUp to 1 year
Change in hormonal profileUp to 1 yearFollicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate.
Change in metabolic profileUp to 1 yearglucose and insulin concentrations, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Change in physical measurementsUp to 1 yearweight, vital signs, and hip and waist measurements.
Ovulation rateUp to 1 year
Birth defectsUp to 1 year
Safety parametersUp to 1 yearrenal and liver function tests and complete blood count.
Side effect profileUp to 1 yearThe major risks to the subject are side effects from letrozole and CHMG and the risks associated with pregnancy.
Pregnancy complicationsUp to 1 yeargestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, ectopic pregnancy, congenital anomaly, preeclampsia, preterm labor, HELLP syndrome, preterm premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption, placenta accreta, placenta previa, postpartum hemorrhage, and others.

Countries

China

Contacts

Primary ContactLihui Hou, MD
houlihui2007@hotmail.com86-451-82130094
Backup ContactXiaoke Wu, MD. PhD
xiaokewu2002@vip.sina.com86-451-82130094

Outcome results

None listed

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