Clomiphene citrate and hMG: an alternative stimulation protocol for selected failed in vitro fertilization patients.

Overview

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to evaluate the potential role of the combination clomiphene citrate/human menopausal gonadotropin (CC/hMG) for patients who failed previous in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRH-a) and/or exogenous gonadotropins. METHODS: Patients were stimulated with CC/hMG (n = 93) after unsuccessfully undergoing 182 gonadotropin cycles with (n = 106) or without (n = 76) luteal-phase GnRH-a. Cancellation rate, length of stimulation, and peak estradiol levels did not differ significantly between the two regimens. RESULTS: Although fewer oocytes were retrieved when the CC/hMG combination was used, 16 patients were able to successfully achieve a pregnancy (26.2% delivery rate/transfer). When daily follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured in two successive cycles in those women who conceived with the CC/hMG stimulation, baseline levels did not differ when compared with a previous GnRH-a/hMG cycle. Nevertheless, serum FSH levels rose rapidly and remained higher in the GnRH-a/hMG cycle, reaching significantly higher levels on day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. CONCLUSION: Selected patients who failed previous IVF attempts with gonadotropins with or without GnRH analogs may benefit from the addition of CC to their ovarian stimulation protocol.