This study evaluates the addition of clomiphene citrate (CC) to letrozole for the treatment of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome across a course of two treatment cycles with stair step dosing of letrozole similar to standard of care. Half of the participants will receive letrozole and CC in combination, while the other half will receive letrozole alone.
Letrozole and Clomid are both used for ovulation induction, but they have different mechanisms of action. In a pilot study we found that the combination of letrozole 2.5 mg and CC 50 mg nearly doubled the ovulation rate as compared to use of letrozole monotherapy (77% vs. 43%, P=0.007; rate ratio for ovulation (95% CI) 1.80 (1.18 to 2.75), with similar endometrial thickness and number of follicles across treatment arms among those who ovulated. Additional data is needed to evaluate escalating dosages, multiple cycles, live birth and multiple gestation with this novel treatment combination. This is a randomized controlled trial of letrozole versus letrozole and clomiphene citrate (CC) for up to three menstrual cycles. Women will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive letrozole 2.5 mg or combination of letrozole 2.5 mg and clomiphene 50 mg for 5 days on days 3-7 of menstrual cycle. The women and their partners will be instructed to have regular intercourse with the intent to conceive during the cycle. Patients will have an transvaginal ultrasound in the mid-luteal phase of cycle to assess corpora lutea number and endometrial thickness. Patients will have mid- luteal phase progesterone level drawn to evaluate ovulation. Patients in both study arms who do not ovulate will have their Letrozole dose increased by 2.5 mg in the next study cycle to a max of 7.5 mg. Patients in the combination arm who do not ovulate will only have their Letrozole dose increased and will continue to receive the same dose of clomiphene across the three study treatment cycles. Side effect profile will also be monitored.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Letrozole tablet
Clomiphene Citrate tablet
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics - Davenport Clinic
Davenport, Iowa, United States
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics- West Des Moines Clinic
West Des Moines, Iowa, United States
University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Ovulation
Number of Participants with Mid-luteal serum progesterone level \>=3 ng/ml Number of cycles with Mid-luteal serum progesterone level \>=3 ng/ml
Time frame: Tested 6 to 8 days following patient reporting a positive ovulation test (LH surge). If no surge is detected, progesterone lab will be drawn on Cycle day 21-24.
Number of Corpora Lutea
Number of corpora lutea on ultrasound
Time frame: Cycle day 21-24 of 1st treatment cycle
Number of Corpora Lutea
Number of corpora lutea on ultrasound
Time frame: Cycle day 21-24 of 2nd treatment cycle
Number of Corpora Lutea
Number of corpora lutea on ultrasound
Time frame: Cycle day 21-24 of 3rd treatment cycle
Endometrial Thickness
Endometrial thickness assessed by ultrasound
Time frame: Cycle day 21-24 of 1st treatment cycle
Endometrial Thickness
Endometrial thickness assessed by ultrasound
Time frame: Cycle day 21-24 of 2nd treatment cycle
Endometrial Thickness
Endometrial thickness assessed by ultrasound
Time frame: Cycle day 21-24 of 3rd treatment cycle
Conception
positive serum or urinary test of hCG
Time frame: 5 weeks after treatment in treatment cycles 1, 2, and 3 (treatment cycle is 24-35 days depending on ovulation)
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Enrollment
190
Clinical Pregnancy
intrauterine pregnancy with fetal heart motion determined by ultrasound
Time frame: 6 to 7 weeks after treatment in treatment cycles 1, 2, and 3 (treatment cycle is 24-35 days depending on ovulation)
Multiple Gestation
intrauterine pregnancy with more than one fetal heart motion determined by ultrasound
Time frame: 6 to 7 weeks after treatment in treatment cycles 1, 2, and 3 (treatment cycle is 24-35 days depending on ovulation)
Live Birth
delivery of a live born infant determined by medical record abstraction
Time frame: 9-10 months following final treatment cycle (treatment cycle is 24-35 days depending on ovulation)
Multiple Birth
delivery of more than one infant determined by medical record abstraction
Time frame: 9-10 months following final treatment cycle (treatment cycle is 24-35 days depending on ovulation)
Pregnancy Loss
biochemical pregnancy, miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy determined by ultrasound or medical record abstraction
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year