Does anovulation induced by oral contraceptives favor pregnancy during the following two menstrual cycles?
OBJECTIVE
To compare IVF and pregnancy outcomes before and after anovulation induced by oral contraceptives.


METHODS
Observational clinical study.


METHODS
Infertility clinic.


METHODS
Forty women with two intact ovaries (32 of 40 couples with male factor infertility and 8 with unknown causes of infertility) underwent 190 IVF treatment cycles (55 natural cycles and 135 clomiphene citrate-stimulated cycles).


METHODS
If the women failed to conceive after 2-4 IVF treatment cycles, oral contraceptives were used to induce anovulation for 1 month before IVF was performed in two consecutive cycles.


METHODS
Rates of oocyte retrieval, fertilization, cleavage, preembryo formation, pregnancy, and implantation were compared before and after a period of anovulation.


RESULTS
The pregnancy rate per cycle of the first and second cycle combined (23%) and that of the second cycle alone (30%) after a period of anovulation were significantly higher than that observed before a period of anovulation (9%).


CONCLUSIONS
Anovulation induced by oral contraceptives, showing bilateral ovarian quiescence, enhances pregnancy rates in the following two menstrual cycles of IVF treatment.
Fukuda
M
M
Fukuda Ladies Clinic, Ako, Japan. fukuda8767@gem.bekkoame.ne.jp
Fukuda
K
K
Yding Andersen
C
C
Byskov
A G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate
D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D002996:Clomiphene; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol