In a nutshell
This study investigated the effectiveness of letrozole (Femara) and clomiphene citrate (Clomid) in women with unexplained infertility. They found that both medications had similar pregnancy success in these women.
Some background
The cause of infertility in women is not always clear. The clinical term for this is unexplained infertility. Patients with unexplained infertility may not ovulate normally. Ovulation induction can successfully treat unexplained infertility in many cases. This is achieved by using drugs that mimic hormone changes.
Letrozole (LTZ) and clomiphene citrate (CCT) are drugs used for ovulation induction. It is unclear if LTZ or CCT is more effective in women with unexplained infertility.
Methods & findings
This study analyzed results from 8 clinical reports. These included 2,647 patients with unexplained infertility. Patients in these studies were taking LTZ or CCT. The authors compared fertility outcomes in these patients.
The pregnancy was similar in LTZ (24%) and CCT (23%) treated patients. There was no difference in the live-birth rate or spontaneous miscarriage rate between the groups. The rate of side effects was not significantly different between the groups. These included pregnancy outside the uterus (womb) or birth defects.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that LTZ and CCT had similar pregnancy success in women with unexplained infertility.
The fine print
The data analyzed in the trial was variable. This means that LTZ or CCT may be effective in certain patients. Which patients benefit more from LTZ or CCT is not clear.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding infertility, please consult with your doctor.
Published By :
Obstetrics and gynecology
Date :
Feb 04, 2019
