The objective of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of the clomiphene stair-step protocol to induce ovulation in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) compared to traditional protocol. Methods:This was a randomized controlled clinical trial at the Fertility clinic of Al sadder teaching hospital at Al- Najaf city, Iraq . It included 140 women who met all of the inclusion criteria, they were divided into two groups; 65 patients for the stair step protocol and 75 patients for the traditional protocol.
Overall study design This was a randomized clinical trial using toss a coin as randomization technique carried out on subfertile women attending the Fertility Clinic of AL Sadder Teaching Hospital at Al- Najaf city, Iraq from May 2010 till May 2011. 170 infertile women were selected at that time for study participation after their written consent. Participant, recruitment and randomization: The diagnostic criteria adopted for PCOS was according to Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM sponsored PCOS consensus workshop group, 2004 based on the presence of two of the following three criteria: i.e. Oligo- and/or anovulation, hyperandrogenism clinical and/or biochemical, Polycystic ovaries, an ovary with 12 or more follicles measuring 2-9 mm indiameter and increased ovarian volume (\>10 cm3) on transvaginal ultrasound(1) .
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
140
For both protocols follow up of the follicular growth has been made by frequent tvUSS monitoring, which have the advantage of providing direct information about the size and number of follicle and measurement of endometrial thickness during clomiphene medication.
Basima Al- Ghazali
Najaf, Kufa, Iraq
The time to ovulation with the stair step protocol was 21-28 days as compared with the traditional protocol which was 42 -70 days.
140 patients who met all of the inclusion criteria were divided into two main groups, Induction of ovulation for both protocols was performed.
Time frame: one year
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