Intercourse compliance, ovulation, and treatment success in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-Reproductive Medicine Network's Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PPCOS) Trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship among intercourse compliance, ovulation, and the occurrence of pregnancy in the Reproductive Medicine Network's Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (RMNPPCOS) Trial.


METHODS
Post hoc data analysis of subjects in the Reproductive Medicine Network PPCOS Trial.


METHODS
Academic medical centers.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Six hundred twenty-six infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome with a mean age of 28.1+/-4 years and mean body mass index of 35.2+/-8.7 kg/m2.


METHODS
Intercourse compliance, ovulation, and pregnancy.


RESULTS
Data on 2925 cycles were included in the analysis, of which 1340 were ovulatory cycles and 1585 were nonovulatory cycles. The rates of intercourse compliance in the PPCOS trial were similar across all treatment groups at all cycles except cycle 4. Among cycles with known ovulation status, 81.2% of patients were compliant with intercourse instructions. Patients were more intercourse compliant in those cycles during which ovulation occurred (83.2% vs. 79.4%). With regard to ovulatory cycles, there was no difference in the occurrence of pregnancy when comparing intercourse compliant versus intercourse noncompliant cycles.


CONCLUSIONS
Intercourse compliance was not associated with the occurrence of pregnancy in ovulatory cycles in the PPCOS Trial. The occurrence of ovulation still remains a critical predictor for the occurrence of pregnancy.
Pagidas
Kelly
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Electronic address: kpagidas@wihri.org.
Carson
Sandra A
SA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
McGovern
Peter G
PG
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.
Barnhart
Huiman X
HX
Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
Myers
Evan R
ER
Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
Legro
Richard S
RS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Diamond
Michael P
MP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
Carr
Bruce R
BR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Schlaff
William D
WD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado.
Coutifaris
Christos
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Steinkampf
Michael P
MP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.
Cataldo
Nicholas A
NA
Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
Nestler
John E
JE
Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
Gosman
Gabey
G
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Giudice
Linda C
LC
Reproductive Sciences Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California.
D000328:Adult; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D054582:National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U.S.); D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012955:Societies, Medical; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D002996:Clomiphene; D008687:Metformin