Effect of clomiphene on basal and LRH-induced gonadotropin secretion in postmenopausal women

LRH tests were performed in 11 postmenopausal women before and after the administration of 200 mg of clomiphene citrate daily by mouth for 7 consecutive days. The basal levels and the maximum increments of serum LH (deltaLH) and the area under the response curve from basal level (deltaarea) after LRH administration, significantly (P less than 0.005) decreased after consecutive administration of this compound. Serum FSH levels were significantly (P less than 0.025) decreased but deltaFSH and deltaarea in LRH test were statistically unchanged. These results suggest that clomiphene citrate in postmenopausal women inhibits the pituitary gonadotropin response to exogenous LRH by its estrogenic effects.