title: Effect of clomiphene citrate on follicular and luteal phase luteinizing hormone concentrations in in vitro fertilization cycles stimulated with gonadotropins and gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect that clomiphene citrate exerts on luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations in gonadotropin/gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were compared. In group I, 20 patients were stimulated with clomiphene citrate (CC) in combination with gonadotropins and 0.25 mg of Cetrorelix (ASTA Medica AG; Frankfurt am Main, Germany) and in group II, 20 patients were stimulated with gonadotropins and 0.25 mg of Cetrorelix.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood sampling was performed in the late follicular, periovulatory, early, mid, and late luteal phases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, and progesterone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LH levels were significantly higher in group I than in group II on all the days studied. Progesterone serum concentrations were significantly higher in group II in the early luteal phase, but not in the follicular or the middle and late luteal phases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LH concentrations are significantly higher in the follicular and luteal phases in cycles stimulated with CC, despite GnRH antagonist administration. This observation might have implications for the dose of GnRH antagonist needed to suppress LH in the follicular phase and questions the need for luteal-phase supplementation in cycles in which CC was used.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Dutch-Speaking Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. mtavaniotou@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Asimina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavaniotou
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smitz
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devroey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008596:Menotropins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D006062:Gonadotropins; D002996:Clomiphene; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008596:Menotropins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C062876:cetrorelix