ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of short and extended long course of letrozole therapy for ovulation induction in clomiphene resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Patients: One hundred infertile women were selected from the patients attending the outpatient clinic of Manshiet El-Bakry general hospital. All patients were diagnosed as having anovulation due to polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]. Interventions: Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with either long letrozole group took 2.5 mg of letrozole daily starting day 1 of spontaneous or progesterone inducing menstrual bleeding for 10 days [50 patients, up to 3 cycles] or short letrozole group took 5 mg of letrozole daily starting day 1 of spontaneous or progesterone inducing menstrual bleeding for 5 days [50 patients, up to 3 cycles]
Results: The number of ovulating patients was greater in the long letrozole group [74% vs. 56%], but without statistical differences. The total number of follicles during stimulation was insignificantly greater in the long letrozole group [8.2 vs. 8.17]. The numbers of follicles =18 mm were significantly greater in the long letrozole group. Pregnancy occurred in 7 in the short group [14%] and 12 of [24%] in the long letrozole group, and the difference was statistically insignificant
Conclusion: The long letrozole protocol [10 days] can produce more mature follicles and subsequently more pregnancies than the short letrozole therapy [5 days]