A comparison of the effects of clomiphene citrate and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole on superovulation in Asian women with normal ovulatory cycles

Abstract

Objective. To compare the effect of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole and clomiphene citrate (CC) on superovulation in women with normal ovulation.

Methods. A cross-over randomized study of 22 women with normal ovulation, divided randomly into two equal cohorts, was carried out. Each group of 11 women was randomly allocated to take letrozole or CC for one cycle. After washing out for one cycle, the alternative drug was administered in the subsequent cycle. The number and size of mature follicles, endometrial thickness, and estradiol and progesterone levels were monitored.

Results. The number of mature follicles and estradiol levels on ovulation day were significantly lower in the letrozole group than the CC group (p < 0.05 for both). However, no differences between the two groups in endometrial thickness and pattern were observed. Progesterone levels showed ovulation in all cycles.

Conclusions. The administration of 50 mg CC on days 3–5 was superior to 2.5 mg letrozole for superovulation induction in women with normal ovulation.

Keywords:

• Aromatase inhibitor
• clomiphene citrate
• endometrial thickness
• letrozole
• superovulation