Extending letrozole treatment duration is effective in inducing ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and letrozole resistance

Objective: To evaluate whether extending letrozole (LE) treatment duration could induce ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who previously failed to ovulate after a 5-day regimen of 5 mg LE daily for at least 1 ovulation induction cycle, defined as LE resistance.Design: Retrospective cohort study.Setting: Tertiary care academic medical center.Patient(s): A total of 69 women with PCOS and LE resistance were included.Intervention(s): The duration of LE treatment was increased in a stepwise manner (named as 2-step extended LE regimen): a 7-day regimen of 5 mg LE daily was prescribed in the first ovulation induction cycle, and if ovulation did not occur, a 10-day regimen was prescribed in the subsequent cycle.Main Outcome Measure(s): Ovulation rate was the primary outcome. Clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, spontaneous ovulation rate, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome rate were the secondary outcomes.Result(s): Of the 69 patients, 48 ovulated after the 7-day and 16 after the 10-day regimen. Overall, the cumulative ovulation rate reached 92.75% (64/69) after the 2-step extended LE regimen, with a cumulative clinical pregnancy rate of 31.88% (22/69) and a cumulative live birth rate of 24.63% (17/69). All patients ovulated spontaneously without exogenous trigger agents and none experienced ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.Conclusion(s): Extending LE treatment duration is a feasible method for inducing ovulation in women with PCOS and LE resistance. (Fertil Steril (R) 2023;119:107-13. (c) 2022 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)El resumen esta disponible en Espanol al final del articulo.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate whether extending letrozole (LE) treatment duration could induce ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who previously failed to ovulate after a 5-day regimen of 5 mg LE daily. The researchers found that extending LE treatment duration in a stepwise manner (2-step extended LE regimen) increased the ovulation rate without the occurrence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.