[Sterility from hormonal causes and unexplained sterility. Treatment with cyclofenil. Double-blind controlled study]

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

• Infertility affects a significant number of women, with causes including ovulatory deficiencies, cervical factors, and idiopathic origins.
• Effective pharmacological interventions for infertility are crucial for improving conception rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of cyclofenil compared to placebo in achieving pregnancy in women with specific infertility causes.
• To assess the cumulative pregnancy rates over three treatment cycles.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind study involving 213 women with infertility.
• Participants were randomized to receive either cyclofenil or a placebo for three cycles.
• Pregnancy outcomes were monitored throughout the study period.

Main Results:

• The cumulative pregnancy rate was 22% in both the cyclofenil group (26/114) and the placebo group (21/99) after three cycles.
• No statistically significant difference in pregnancy rates was observed between cyclofenil and placebo treatments.
• This suggests a substantial placebo effect in the context of infertility treatment.

Conclusions:

• Cyclofenil demonstrated no superior efficacy over placebo in treating infertility over three cycles.
• The study underscores the importance of the doctor-patient relationship and the placebo effect in managing infertility.
• Further research may be needed to explore other therapeutic avenues or optimize existing treatments.