title: Treatment of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: approach to clinical practice.
abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome represents 80% of anovulatory infertility cases. Treatment initially includes preconception guidelines, such as lifestyle changes (weight loss), folic acid therapy to prevent the risk of fetal neural tube defects and halting the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. The first-line pharmacological treatment for inducing ovulation consists of a clomiphene citrate treatment for timed intercourse. The second-line pharmacological treatment includes the administration of exogenous gonadotropins or laparoscopic ovarian surgery (ovarian drilling). Ovulation induction using clomiphene citrate or gonadotropins is effective with cumulative live birth rates of approximately 70%. Ovarian drilling should be performed when laparoscopy is indicated; this procedure is typically effective in approximately 50% of cases. Finally, a high-complexity reproduction treatment (in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is the third-line treatment and is recommended when the previous interventions fail. This option is also the first choice in cases of bilateral tubal occlusion or semen alterations that impair the occurrence of natural pregnancy. Evidence for the routine use of metformin in infertility treatment of anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome is not available. Aromatase inhibitors are promising and longer term studies are necessary to prove their safety.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson Sanches
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rui Alberto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ferriani
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Andrea
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008019:Life Style; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D006062:Gonadotropins; D002996:Clomiphene