Cost Effectiveness Analysis for Induction of Ovulation in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Letrozole Versus Clomiphene Citrate: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility that affects 4% - 8% of reproductive-age females (Priya,M.R,2019).

Diagnosis of PCOS is very important for proper management. In literature, Rotterdam criteria are widely used for diagnosis and focus on polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound,a history of ovulatory disorders (oligo-anovulation), and clinical/biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism requiring two of three features after exclusion of other endocrinopathies (Wang,R,2017).

Although the syndrome is a complex reproductive-metabolic disorder, the hypothalamic-pituitary axis has been the target of first-line ovulation-induction therapy. Clomiphene citrate, a selective estrogen-receptor modulator that antagonizes the negative feedback of estrogen at the hypothalamus with a consequent increase in ovarian stimulation by endogenous gonadotropin, has been used for this indication for decades (Legro RS,2007).

Clomiphene citrate (CC) is still holding its place for ovulation induction being simple, safe, cheap and effective (Garg, N,2019).

However, clomiphene-resistance, i.e., failure to ovulate after receiving 150 mg/day for at least three cycles for five days per cycle affects 15% - 40% of patients with PCOS (Salaheldin,A.M,2016).