Ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate for infertile couple

Abstract

Aim: Among couples unable to conceive without any identifiable cause, 30% are defined as having unexplained infertility. Management depends on duration of infertility and age of female partner. In order to increase pregnancy rate, couples with infertility of unknown origin can undergo ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination. These techniques are able to increase pregnancy rate in case of unexplained infertility. Clomiphene citrate and menopausal or recombinant gonodotropins are the most used drugs to induce ovulation. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the success rate after homologous intrauterine insemination (IUI) combined with clomiphene citrate (CC) stimulation.

Methods: A total of 77 couples were evaluated. Nine couples (11.6%) were excluded from the treatment (vaginal infections 4, tubal occlusions 3 and male sterility 2). Informed consent was applied for every couple. The remaining 68 couples were divided in two groups: group A (34 couples) were inducted with CC, while group B (34 couples) underwent placebo (multivitamin).

Results: In group A (CC) 15 (44.1%) pregnancies and 3 (8.8%) abortion were registered, while in group B (placebo) there were 4 (11.7%) pregnancies and 1 (2.9%) abortion.

Conclusion: Ovulation inductions with CC, together with intrauterine insemination, improves fecundity in patients with infertility of unknown origin with no need to recur to more invasive techniques.