title: Low-dose follicle-stimulating hormone treatment for polycystic ovarian disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An attempt was made to induce ovulation with low-dose follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in clomifene-resistant women with anovulatory polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two PCOD patients were treated with a low-dose protocol of purified urinary FSH, starting with 75 IU/day and increasing every 7 days by 37.5 IU/day, if necessary. Monitoring was based on ultrasound scanning and estradiol measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight of the thirty-one cycles induced were ovulatory, the majority being uniovulatory (58%). No multiple pregnancies occurred. There was a small number of cancelled cycles (12.9%). The prevalence of complications was low, with one case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Ovulation was induced by a small amount of FSH (15.1 +/- 4.9 ampules).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the low-dose protocol permitted induction of ovulation safely and successfully in a selected group of PCOD patients. This therapy was associated with a high incidence of single dominant follicles and a very low multiple pregnancy rate.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grigoriou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antonaki
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patsouras
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zioris
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karakitsos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
chemical_list: D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone