Ovulation induction in clomiphene-resistant anovulatory women with normal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels: beneficial effects of the addition of dexamethasone during the follicular phase

Abstract

To evaluate the effect on ovulation of a 10-day course of dexamethasone (DEX) initiated concurrently with a 5-day course of clomiphene citrate (CC) in CC-resistant patients with normal DHEAS levels. Retrospective review. Patients from the clinical practice of the authors at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia. Thirteen oligomenorrheic women with normal DHEAS levels who failed to ovulate on a graduated regimen of CC up to a dose of 150 mg for 5 days. Ten-day course of DEX initiated concurrently with a 5-day course of CC; ovulation and pregnancy outcomes recorded. Pregnancy. Eleven of 13 women had evidence of ovulation. Five clinical pregnancies were achieved. These initial data support improvements in follicular development with an overlapping follicular phase regimen of CC and DEX in patients with normal DHEAS levels and a previous poor response.