title: Effect of finasteride on ovulation induction in nonresponder (hyperandrogenic) polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether the addition of finasteride (a 5-reductase inhibitor) to conventional protocol of ovarian stimulation with gonadotropin can improve ovarian follicular growth in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women who did not respond to previous stimulation with gonadotropin alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient in an academic research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six PCOS patients in whom the previous multifollicular stimulation protocols with gonadotropin failed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: group 1 underwent ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH (rFSH) plus finasteride, and group 2 received rFSH alone. When the dominant follicle reached a mean diameter of 18 mm, hCG was administered and finasteride withdrawn.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ovulation rate in women with PCOS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follicular growth and ovulation occurred in eight patients in group 1, whereas no cases were detected in group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that hyperandrogenism interferes with follicular growth and suggests that administration of finasteride during ovarian stimulation with rFSH improves ovulation rate in selected hyperandrogenic anovulatory women.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica III, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. m.tartagni@gynecology3.uniba.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tartagni
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cicinelli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Pergola
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lavopa
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Naro
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Salvia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loverro