Polycystic ovarian syndrome: safety and effectiveness of stepwise and low-dose administration of purified follicle-stimulating hormone.
OBJECTIVE
An attempt to induce ovulation with a single dominant follicle in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients.


METHODS
Comparing ultrasound and estradiol (E2) measurements during treatment with a low-dose protocol (using purified follicle-stimulating hormone, starting with 75 IU/d and increasing every 7 days by 37.5 IU/d) with those obtained following treatment with a conventional protocol using the same drug.


METHODS
Specialist Reproductive Endocrine Unit. PATIENTS PARTICIPANTS: Eight PCOS patients of whom six had failed to respond adequately to the conventional protocol.


METHODS
Rate of cancellation of cycles, number of leading follicles, and serum E2 concentration at the time of ovulation.


RESULTS
Treatment with the low-dose protocol resulted in a significant reduction in the number of leading follicles (P less than 0.04), serum E2 concentrations (P less than 0.0002), and a higher rate of ovulation. As a result, five patients conceived compared with none in the conventional protocol.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the low-dose protocol permitted induction of ovulation safely and successfully in a selected group of PCOS patients who were previously difficult to treat with the conventional ovulation induction protocol.
Shoham
Z
Z
Cobbold Laboratories, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, Middlesex Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Patel
A
A
Jacobs
H S
HS
D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone