Laparoscopic electrocautery of the ovaries versus recombinant FSH in clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome. Impact on women's health-related quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Ovulation induction with gonadotrophins is the standard treatment strategy for women with clomiphene citrate (CC)-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Laparoscopic electrocautery of the ovaries is an alternative treatment modality, leading to a comparable cumulative pregnancy rate. In deciding which treatment to opt for, women's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) should be taken into account.


METHODS
A total of 168 CC-resistant women with PCOS were randomly assigned to receive either the electrocautery strategy, entailing laparoscopic electrocautery of the ovaries followed by CC and recombinant FSH (rFSH) if anovulation persisted, or ovulation induction with rFSH. We assessed women's HRQoL with the standard questionnaires Short Form-36, Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, administered before randomization and 2, 12 and 24 weeks thereafter.


RESULTS
The intention to treat analysis revealed no significant differences between the treatment groups on any of the scales at any point during follow-up. In women without an ongoing pregnancy, those treated with rFSH showed significantly more depressive symptoms than women allocated to the electrocautery strategy, with or without CC, although differences were small.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, HRQoL was not affected in both groups. In women still under treatment, rFSH was slightly more burdensome for women's HRQoL than electrocautery with or without CC.
van Wely
M
M
Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (H4-205), Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.vanwely@amc.uva.nl
Bayram
N
N
Bossuyt
P M M
PM
van der Veen
F
F
D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010053:Ovary; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019233:Retreatment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002996:Clomiphene; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone