Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) often leads to irregular or absent menstrual cycles. This happens because PCOS disrupts hormones, preventing regular ovulation or causing it to occur unpredictably. This can make it challenging to conceive, and most PCOS patients require fertility treatment.
The first step in treating this issue is Ovulation Induction, a process involving medication that triggers ovulation in the brain and ovaries. One commonly used oral medication for this purpose is Clomiphene Citrate, also known as Clomid. It’s considered the primary treatment for patients with “unexplained infertility” (when no clear cause for infertility is identified), but not for those with PCOS. Why is this the case?
This information stems from a significant study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2014 by Legro et al. In this study, PCOS patients with abnormal ovulatory cycles were randomly assigned to receive either Clomiphene Citrate or another medication called Letrozole (also known as Femara).
The study revealed that more patients ovulated when using Letrozole (88.5%) compared to Clomid (76.6%). Additionally, the live birth rates were higher for those on Letrozole (27.5%) than for those on Clomid (19.1%). Importantly, the study found no significant differences in safety outcomes, such as pregnancy complications or miscarriages.
Based on these findings, many fertility doctors now prescribe Letrozole to PCOS patients with irregular periods who are struggling to conceive. If you’d like more in-depth information about treatment options and the ovulation induction process, consider scheduling an appointment with a Fertility specialist -I can provide personalized guidance and answer any questions you may have.
