Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2006 Aug;49(8):1723-1731.

A comparison of the effect of Anastrozole and Clomiphene citrate in anovulatory patients

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. pwi3110@eulji.or.kr

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical effectiveness of Anastrozole in ovulation induction with that of clomiphene citrate.
METHODS
Sixty anovulatory women were randomly divided into 4 groups (1 mg, 2 mg and 4 mg of Anastrozole groups and Clomiphene citrate group). The ovulation induction was tried with 3 dosages of Anastrozole or 100 mg of Clomiphene citrate for 5 days. The serum level of estradiol, testosterone, FSH and LH were serially monitored (on 3rd, 5th and 8th days of treatment). Serum estradiol level at the time of hCG injection was also measured. Ovulation rate, number of dominant follicles, endometrial thickness, and pregnancy rate were measured and compared across the study groups.
RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in estradiol, testosterone, or LH level between women treated with Anastrozole and Clomiphene citrate. In patients treated with 4 mg of Anastrozole, serum FSH level was higher than that of the women treated with Clomiphene citrate (P<0.05). Endometrial thickness was greater in patients treated with Anastrozole than women treated with Clomiphene citrate (P<0.05). Number of dominant follicles in patients treated with Clomiphene (1.56) was slightly greater than in women treated with Anastrozole (1.0-1.1), but there was no statistically significant difference.
CONCLUSION
Anastrozole had similar clinical effectiveness in ovulation induction when compared to Clomiphene citrate. At 1 mg or 2 mg of Anastrozole, ovulatory rate remained below the effectiveness of Clomiphene citrate, therefore considering the expensive cost of Anastrozole, it should not be considered as first-line medication for ovulation induction but reserved for those who have certain conditions such as thin endometrium and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Keyword

Aromatase inhibitor; Anastrozole; Clomiphene citrate; Ovulation induction

MeSH Terms

Clomiphene*
Endometrium
Estradiol
Female
Humans
Ovulation
Ovulation Induction
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Pregnancy Rate
Testosterone
Clomiphene
Estradiol
Testosterone
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