Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 4, 696-702,
April 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
A randomized study comparing IVF in the unstimulated cycle with IVF following clomiphene citrate
1 Fertility Clinic and 2 Perinatal Epidemiological Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby Sygehus, Aarhus, Denmark
The efficiency of IVF in unstimulated cycles was compared with that following ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate in a simple protocol with ultrasound monitoring only. A total of 132 couples with no previous IVF attempts, selected by female age <35 years, indication for intracytoplasmic sperm injection or infertility caused by tubal factor or unexplained infertility were randomized to the two protocols. Randomization yielded two comparable groups. The clomiphene group (68 couples) performed significantly better than the unstimulated group (64 couples) in terms of number of cycles with oocyte harvest (90/111 or 81% versus 65/114 or 57%; 
2 = 9.21, P < 0.002), embryo transfers per started cycle (59/111 or 53% versus 29/114 or 25%; 2 = 18.14, P < 0.0001), live intrauterine pregnancy rate per started cycle (20/111 or 18% versus 4/114 or 4%; 2 = 12.42, P < 0.0001), live intrauterine pregnancy rate per embryo transfer (20/59 or 34% versus 4/29 or 14%; 2 = 3.96, P = 0.047), but not in terms of implantation rate (22/85 or 26% versus 4/29 or 14%; 2 = 1.65). Only two twin pregnancies occurred. Modest side-effects were recorded following clomiphene. Accordingly, a simple clomiphene citrate protocol, but not IVF in unstimulated cycles, seems compatible with the concept of `friendly IVF', yielding a fair pregnancy rate both per cycle started and per embryo transfer in selected patients. The results do not substantiate any important negative anti-oestrogenic effects of clomiphene.
Key words: clinical pregnancy rate/clomiphene citrate/IVF/unstimulated cycles
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Fertility Clinic, Skejby Sygehus, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.E-mail: jakob.ingerslev{at}dadlnet.dk
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  N. S. Macklon, R. L. Stouffer, L. C. Giudice, and B. C. J. M. Fauser The Science behind 25 Years of Ovarian Stimulation for in Vitro Fertilization Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2006; 27(2): 170 - 207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M.J. Pelinck, N.E.A. Vogel, A. Hoek, E.G.J.M. Arts, A.H.M. Simons, and M.J. Heineman Minimal stimulation IVF with late follicular phase administration of the GnRH antagonist cetrorelix and concomitant substitution with recombinant FSH: a pilot study Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2005; 20(3): 642 - 648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. UBALDI, L. RIENZI, S. FERRERO, E. BARONI, M. IACOBELLI, F. SAPIENZA, M. G. MINASI, L. COBELLIS, S. ROMANO, F. SCARSELLI, et al. Natural In Vitro Fertilization Cycles Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., December 1, 2004; 1034(1): 245 - 251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Ziebe, S. Bangsboll, K.L.T. Schmidt, A. Loft, A. Lindhard, and A. Nyboe Andersen Embryo quality in natural versus stimulated IVF cycles Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2004; 19(6): 1457 - 1460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Pinborg, A. Loft, L. Schmidt, and A. N. Andersen Attitudes of IVF/ICSI-twin mothers towards twins and single embryo transfer Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2003; 18(3): 621 - 627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Hojgaard, H. J. Ingerslev, and J. Dinesen Friendly IVF: patient opinions Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2001; 16(7): 1391 - 1396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|