Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the early clinical outcomes in cycles induced by letrozole and clomiphene citrate (CC) combined with oxytocin (OT) or OT + human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in anovulatory patients. We conducted a randomized controlled prospective clinical study in the clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from October, 2007 to September, 2009. One hundred and seventy-seven infertile women participated in this study and they were divided randomly to five groups. Induction ovulation started with letrozole combined with hCG or OT, hCG + OT, and CC combined with OT, or hCG + OT. Early clinical outcomes including the rate of ovulation, and pregnancy was evaluated. There were significant differences between groups in the number of mature follicles for letrozole and CC groups by three months (P < 0.001). Overall, pregnancy rate was not different between groups (P = 0.87). However, comparison of pregnancy rates between groups in each month shows that the clinical pregnancy rate at the third month in letrozole + OT + hCG group was significant (P < 0.041). Addition of oxytocin improved the clinical outcomes.

Key words: Oxytocin (OT), letrozole, ovulation induction.