Clomifene, a front-line infertility treatment in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is not very effective and comes with unpleasant side effects and a high rate of multiple pregnancies.
A study published in
The
New England Journal of Medicine
suggest that letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, may be an effective alternative to clomifene, with potential advantages over standard therapy[1]
.
Among 750 women with infertility caused by PCOS, cumulative live birth rates were 27.5% in those given letrozole versus 19.1% in those given clomifene (rate ratio 1.44). Ovulation, conception and pregnancy were all significantly more likely with letrozole, while rates of neonatal complications (including anomalies) and adverse events were similar.
