Letrozole co-treatment in infertile women 40 years old and older receiving controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of a combination of letrozole and gonadotropins in advanced reproductive age infertile women who were treated with IUI.


METHODS
A retrospective case control study.


METHODS
A private practice affiliated with an academic institute.


METHODS
Infertile women 40 years old and older who were treated with IUI and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using either letrozole in combination with FSH (n = 90) or FSH alone (n = 69).


METHODS
Pregnancy rates (PR), mature follicles, serum levels of E(2), P, LH, endometrial thickness, rates of cycle cancellation, and FSH dose.


RESULTS
Pregnancy rates were comparable between the letrozole-FSH co-treatment group and the FSH alone group. Significantly fewer cycles were cancelled in the letrozole co-treatment group. The E(2) levels and the number of follicles were significantly higher in the FSH-only group. Serum levels of LH were significantly higher in the co-treatment group on cycle day 7. The P levels were significantly higher in the FSH alone group on the day of hCG administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Letrozole co-treatment compared with using FSH alone has significantly modified the cycle characteristics without reducing PRs and could be of potential benefit in IUI cycles in older infertile women.
Bedaiwy
Mohamed A
MA
Toronto Centre For Advanced Reproductive Technologies (TCART), and Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Shokry
Mahmoud
M
Mousa
Noha
N
Claessens
Anne
A
Esfandiari
Navid
N
Gotleib
Lynda
L
Casper
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female; D007248:Infertility, Male; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D000077289:Letrozole; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009570:Nitriles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077289:Letrozole; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone