title: Effects of a single 20 mg dose of letrozole on ovarian function post dominant follicle selection: an exploratory randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our objective was to explore the impact of a single dose of an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole) administered at defined times of the follicular phase or immediately after ovulation on dominant follicle development, luteogenesis and new follicle wave emergence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective pilot study using a randomized complete block, controlled, open label design was conducted at an academic clinical research center. Forty-five healthy, female volunteers (25.5 ± 0.9 years, BMI 25.0 ± 0.6 kg/m2) who had not taken hormonal contraceptives for a minimum of 2 months were recruited. A 20 mg dose of Letrozole was administered once orally in each of 3 groups when the dominant follicle reached a diameter of 1) 12 mm, 2) 18 mm, 3) the first day following ovulation (post-ovulation), or 4) treatment was withheld (control). Serial ultrasonography and phlebotomy began on day 4 of the menstrual cycle and continued for 1.5 menstrual cycles. Participants recorded menses and daily events in a life events calendar for the duration of the study. Demographic and single point measurements were compared among groups by ANOVA. Changes in hormone concentrations over time were compared among groups by repeated measures ANOVA. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for non-normally distributed data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dominant follicle in all treatment groups ovulated. There were no differences among experimental groups in peak follicle diameter, follicular growth rate, endometrial thickness at ovulation or inter-ovulatory interval. Plasma concentrations of estradiol dropped, while FSH and LH concentrations rose following treatment in all treatment groups. Plasma FSH and LH concentrations were higher in the 18 mm group compared to the 12 mm and post-ovulation groups (P < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of a single 20 mg dose of Letrozole at the times of the menstrual cycle we examined did not induce dominant follicle regression or failure of corpus luteum formation. Letrozole-induced suppression of estradiol synthesis by the dominant follicle was not detrimental to follicle growth or ovulation following follicle selection, likely due to increased circulating concentrations of FSH and LH resulting from a lack of estradiol-induced suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical trials registration number NCT01046578 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0 W8, Canada.|Present Address: Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA.
authors.forename: H C M
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Allaway
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0 W8, Canada.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Chizen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0 W8, Canada. roger.pierson@usask.ca.
authors.forename: R A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4435-0515
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pierson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D034461:Luteinization; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009570:Nitriles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D006728:Hormones; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D000077289:Letrozole
keywords: Aromatase inhibitor; Endometrium; Estradiol; Follicular phase; Ovulation