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. 2013 Feb 7:11:7.
doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-11-7.

Nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker, delays the spontaneous LH surge in women with regular menstrual cycles: a prospective pilot study

Dan Nayot  1 , Shany Klachook, Robert F Casper
Affiliations

Nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker, delays the spontaneous LH surge in women with regular menstrual cycles: a prospective pilot study

Dan Nayot et al. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. .

Abstract

Background: Currently GnRH analogue injections are used to prevent premature LH surges in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology. This was a pilot study to determine the safety and effectiveness of nimodipine, an oral calcium channel blocker, to delay the mid-cycle spontaneous LH surge in women with regular menstrual cycles.

Methods: Eight women with regular menstrual cycles self-monitored three consecutive cycles for the day of an LH surge by daily urine assay. The first and third cycles were observatory. In the second cycle, subjects took nimodipine 60 mg by mouth three times daily for four days, starting two days prior to the expected LH surge day based on cycle one.

Results: The LH surge day in cycle 2 (nimodipine) was significantly delayed in comparison to both observatory cycle 1 (15.5+/-3.4 vs 14.0+/-2.8 days; p=0.033) and cycle 3 (15.1+/-3.5 vs 13.1+/-2.4 days; p=0.044). There was no difference in the LH surge day between the two observatory cycles (13.4+/-2.4 vs 13.1+/-2.4 days; p=0.457). Three patients experienced a mild headache.

Conclusions: There was a statistically significant delay in the spontaneous LH surge day in the treatment cycle in comparison to both observatory cycles. Nimopidine should be further investigated as an oral alternative to delay a spontaneous LH surge.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
LH surge of 8 female patients (mean ± SD). The LH surge in the nimodipine cycle was significantly delayed in comparison to observatory cycle 1 (mean 15.5 ± 3.4 days vs 14.0 ± 2.8 days, p = 0.033). **Comparisons of LH surge day between cycles were performed using paired t-tests.
Figure 2
Figure 2
LH surge of 7 female patients (mean ± SD). The LH surge was significantly delayed in the nimodipine cycle 2 in comparison to observatory cycle 3 (mean 15.1 ± 3.5 days vs 13.1 ± 2.4 days, p = 0.044). Among the eight patients, one patient had an anovulatory 3rd cycle and did not have a positive LH surge. **Comparisons of LH surge day between cycles were performed using paired t-tests.
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