Effect of finasteride on ovulation induction in nonresponder (hyperandrogenic) polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women.
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 When the dominant follicle reached a mean diameter of 18 mm, hCG was administered and finasteride withdrawn.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.
Tartagni
Massimo
M
Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica III, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. m.tartagni@gynecology3.uniba.it
Cicinelli
Ettore
E
De Pergola
Giovanni
G
Lavopa
Cristina
C
Di Naro
Edoardo
E
De Salvia
Maria Antonietta
MA
Loverro
Giuseppe
G