The Effect of Metformin Added to Clomiphene Citrate on Pregnancy Rates in Hyperandrogenic, Chronic Oligoovulatory or Anovulatory Women

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose The purpose of our study was to conduct a placebo controlled, double-blind randomized trial in chronic oligoovulatory or anovulatory , hyperandrogenic, infertility patients comparing the effects of adjuvant metformin plus clomiphene citrate to clomiphene citrate plus placebo on pregnancy rates and ovulation rates. We hypothesized that combining metformin with clomiphene citrate would result in higher ovulation and pregnancy rates in hyperandrogenic women who have chronic oligoovulation or anovulation as the sole etiology for their infertility and who have unknown responsiveness to clomiphene citrate.
ConditionPolycystic Ovary Syndrome
Anovulation
Oligoovulation
Infertility
Hyperandrogenism
InterventionDrug: Metformin
Drug: Clomiphene citrate
Drug: Placebo
PhasePhase 3
SponsorWilford Hall Medical Center
Responsible PartyWilford Hall Medical Center
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00413179
First ReceivedDecember 18, 2006
Last UpdatedDecember 18, 2006
Last verifiedDecember 2006

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateDecember 18, 2006
Last Updated DateDecember 18, 2006
Start DateDecember 1997
Estimated Primary Completion DateApril 2003
Current Primary Outcome Measures
  • Pregnancy Rates
  • Ovulation Rates
Current Secondary Outcome MeasuresPregnancy Outcome

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleThe Effect of Metformin Added to Clomiphene Citrate on Pregnancy Rates in Hyperandrogenic, Chronic Oligoovulatory or Anovulatory Women
Official TitleThe Effect of Metformin Added to Clomiphene Citrate on Pregnancy Rates in Hyperandrogenic, Chronic Oligoovulatory or Anovulatory Women: A Randomized Trial
Brief Summary
The purpose of our study was to conduct a placebo controlled, double-blind randomized trial
in chronic oligoovulatory or anovulatory , hyperandrogenic, infertility patients comparing
the effects of adjuvant metformin plus clomiphene citrate to clomiphene citrate plus placebo
on pregnancy rates and ovulation rates. We hypothesized that combining metformin with
clomiphene citrate would result in higher ovulation and pregnancy rates in hyperandrogenic
women who have chronic oligoovulation or anovulation as the sole etiology for their
infertility and who have unknown responsiveness to clomiphene citrate.
Detailed Description
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), defined as chronic oligoovulation or
anovulation and hyperandrogenism, are primarily treated with clomiphene citrate as first
line therapy if they desire pregnancy. However, women with PCOS have lower than expected
pregnancy rates in response to clomiphene citrate. Approximately 20% of women with PCOS are
resistant to clomiphene citrate. Subjects with chronic oligoovulation or anovulation and
hyperandrogenism will ovulate 80% of the time, but pregnancy occurs in only 40%. The ideal
initial treatment regimen for women with PCOS who desire pregnancy has not been determined.

Metformin (Glucophage; Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ) is an insulin sensitizer and
lowers serum insulin and androgen levels. Numerous case studies, case series, retrospective
studies, and non-placebo controlled prospective studies, have suggested an improvement in
insulin sensitivity, spontaneous menses, ovulatory response and pregnancies when metformin
was given alone or prior to initiation of ovulation inducing agents in women with chronic
anovulation and hyperandrogenism.

However, there has been conflicting evidence in the literature regarding the effect of
metformin alone or in combination with ovulation inducing agents regarding ovulation and
pregnancy rates in prospective, randomized trials. Therefore, it remains unknown if the use
of metformin plus clomiphene citrate in non-selected, infertility patients with PCOS
improves ovulation and pregnancy rates compared to the use of clomiphene citrate alone.

Women with a history of infertility and diagnosed with hyperandrogenic, oligoovulatory or
anovulatory cycles as the sole etiology for their infertility were randomized to receive
clomiphene citrate 50 mg days 5-9, plus metformin 500 mg three times daily versus clomiphene
plus placebo. The dose of clomiphene was increased up to a maximum dose of 250 mg in a
step-wise fashion until ovulation was confirmed with an ovulation predictor kit. Once
ovulation was confirmed the subjects continued the ovulatory dose of clomiphene for 6
ovulatory cycles or until conception. Metformin or placebo was started on cycle day one and
discontinued 8 days after the LH surge and/or by cycle day 21. A positive HCG, ovulation
rates and pregnancy outcome were the outcome measures.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 3
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double-Blind, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  • Anovulation
  • Oligoovulation
  • Infertility
  • Hyperandrogenism
InterventionDrug: Metformin
Drug: Clomiphene citrate
Drug: Placebo
Study Arm (s)Not Provided

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusCompleted
Estimated Enrollment56
Estimated Completion DateApril 2003
Estimated Primary Completion DateNot Provided
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Married

- Hyperandrogenic women 18-40 years old who desired fertility and who demonstrated
chronic anovulation or oligoovulation

- Had patent fallopian tubes and whose partners had normal semen analyses were eligible
for enrollment in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Androgen secreting tumours

- Diabetes mellitus

- Thyroid abnormalities

- Hyperprolactinemia

- Adult onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia

- Diminished ovarian reserve

- Subjects who used hormonal medications two months prior to the start of the trial.
GenderFemale
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersAccepts Healthy Volunteers
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesUnited States

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT00413179
Other Study ID NumbersFWH19970383H
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeNot Provided
Information Provided ByWilford Hall Medical Center
Study SponsorWilford Hall Medical Center
CollaboratorsNot Provided
Investigators Principal Investigator: Randal D Robinson, MD Wilford Hall Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center
Verification DateDecember 2006

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Wiford Hall Medical Center
Lackland AFB, Texas, United States, 78236