title: Comparison of metformin and clomiphene citrate therapy for induction of ovulation in the polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of metformin and clomiphene citrate (CC) therapies for ovulation induction in anovulatory infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 69 consecutive infertile, anovulatory women with PCOS were enrolled in this prospective, non-randomized trial. The women were prescribed either 1,700 mg/day metformin or CC with a starting dose of 50 mg/day up to 150 mg/day for a period of six consecutive cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metformin and CC groups were followed for a total of 136 and 94 cycles, respectively. Metformin group had lower rates of ovulation when compared with CC group (32.3 vs. 60.6%, respectively; p = 0.004). There was no statistical difference in pregnancy rates per cycle between the treatment groups (8 vs. 11.7%, respectively; p = 0.33) leading to similar cumulative pregnancy rates (36.6 vs. 35.4%, respectively; p = 0.45). No difference was observed among the abortion rates (10 vs. 10%, respectively; p > 0.05) between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although metformin and CC are two effective first-line approaches for improving pregnancy rates in anovulatory PCOS women, CC is associated with higher rates of ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haseki Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Api
authors.forename: Behiye Pinar Cilesiz
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Goksedef
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cetin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000858:Anovulation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D002996:Clomiphene; D008687:Metformin