Ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome

• Published in: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Vol. 97; no. 10; pp. 1162 - 1167
• Main Authors: Tanbo, Tom, Mellembakken, Jan, Bjercke, Sverre, Ring, Eva, Åbyholm, Thomas, Fedorcsak, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Norwegian
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.2018; Munksgaard Forlag
• Subjects: Antidiabetics; aromatase inhibitors; Dietary supplements; Drug therapy; follicle‐stimulating hormone; in vitro fertilization; Infertility; inositol; metformin; Ovulation; Polycystic ovary syndrome; selective estrogen modulators; surgery; Weight control; selective estrogen modulators; follicle-stimulating hormone; in vitro fertilization; inositol; metformin; aromatase inhibitors; polycystic ovary syndrome; surgery
• ISSN: 0001-6349; 1600-0412
• DOI: 10.1111/aogs.13395

The objective of this narrative review was to suggest a rational order of treatment choices in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), for whom a multitude of treatment options exist. In obese/overweight women with PCOS the importance of weight reduction should be stressed. Inositol, a dietary supplement with a documented effect on ovulation and without adverse effects in the doses recommended, may be suggested. Additional first‐line medical alternatives include insulin sensitizers, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and aromatase inhibitors. Of these, the aromatase inhibitor letrozole and the combination of clomiphene citrate and metformin have the highest rates of ovulation and live birth. Second‐line treatments are ovarian electrocautery and low‐dose follicle‐stimulating hormone stimulation. Controlled ovarian stimulation with in vitro fertilization, should be considered the last option as it carries a significant risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in patients with PCOS.