title: Randomized controlled trial comparing superovulation with letrozole versus recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone combined with intrauterine insemination for couples with unexplained infertility who had failed clomiphene citrate stimulation and intrauterine insemination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of letrozole to recombinant FSH for ovarian stimulation combined with IUI in a group of patients that had failed to conceive after clomiphene citrate (CC) and IUI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized trial with human subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based fertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty couples with unexplained infertility that failed to conceive after three cycles of CC combined to IUI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Couples were randomized to undergo superovulation either with letrozole or with recombinant FSH combined to IUI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical pregnancy per cycle of treatment and clinical pregnancy per couple.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnancy rate (PR) per cycle was 8.9% in the letrozole group as compared with 14% in the gonadotropin IUI group. This resulted in a cumulative PR per couple of 24% versus 36% and a take home baby rate of 20% versus 28%. Endometrial thickness was significantly lower in the letrozole group (7.1 +/- 2.3 vs 8.6 +/- 1.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ovarian stimulation with letrozole is associated with acceptable PRs compared with gonadotropin with significant less cost, risks, and patient inconvenience.
authors.affiliation: Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Odysseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gregoriou
authors.forename: Nikos F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Vlahos
authors.forename: Socrates
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konidaris
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papadias
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Botsis
authors.forename: George K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D000077289:Letrozole; D009570:Nitriles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D009570:Nitriles; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014230:Triazoles; D002996:Clomiphene; D000077289:Letrozole; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone