Hormonal Changes in Clomiphene Citrate Cycles in Unexplained Infertility Can Predict Follicle Development?

To examine the intra-cycle and inter-cycle hormonal changes in the clomiphene citrate (CC) cycle in women with unexplained infertility; and to determine the factors that may predict follicle development or CC failure.

Descriptive study.

This study was conducted at the Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey from August 2019 to March 2020.

Fifty-two women with unexplained infertility were included. Fifty-two cycles given 50 mg of CC but without follicle development were accepted as Group I. In the next cycle, 48 cycles given 100 mg of CC were accepted as Group II. During every cycle, serum hormone (FSH, LH, E2, P4, A4, DHEA‑S, T, 17‑OHP) levels were measured on days 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the cycle (basal day), and on the days when the leading follicle was triggered (trigger day). Endogenous hormone changes were compared in both the groups with and without follicle development as well as in those who could conceive and those who could not conceive.

Basal day FSH and DHEA‑S values were found to be statistically significantly higher in women with follicle development than those without follicle development (p = 0.02 and p = 0.039, respectively). The trigger day FSH value was found to be significantly lower in women who conceived compared to the basal day value (p = 0.004). The relatively high P4 value (p = 0.008) on the basal day (contingent upon it was not exceeding the 0.5 ng/mL threshold) and the low FSH value (p = 0.015) on the trigger day were found to be statistically significantly different in women who had conceived compared to those who had not.

Basal serum FSH, P4 and DHEA‑S levels can be used as predictors of ovulation in CC cycles in women with unexplained infertility by determining a threshold value with more comprehensive studies to be conducted in the future. Key Words: Androgens, Ovarian stimulation, Clomiphene citrate, Unexplained infertility, Induction of ovulation, Prediction.