BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
Clomiphene citrate (CC) is the first-line therapy for the induction of ovulation in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but ~20% of patients are unresponsive. The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that a 6-week intervention that consisted of structured exercise training (SET) and hypocaloric diet increases the probability of ovulation after CC in overweight and obese CC-resistant PCOS patients.<\/p>\n
METHODS<\/p>\n
A cohort of 96 overweight and obese CC-resistant PCOS patients was enrolled consecutively in a three-arm randomized, parallel, controlled, assessor-blinded clinical trial. The three interventions were: SET plus hypocaloric diet for 6 weeks (Group A); 2 weeks of observation followed by one cycle of CC therapy (Group B); and SET plus hypocaloric diet for 6 weeks, with one cycle of CC after the first 2 weeks (Group C). The primary end-point was the ovulation rate. Other reproductive data, as well as anthropometric, hormonal and metabolic data, were also collected and considered as secondary end points.<\/p>\n
RESULTS<\/p>\n
After 6 weeks of SET plus hypocaloric diet, the ovulation rate was significantly (P =<\/I>0.008) higher in Group C [12\/32 (37.5%)] than in Groups A [4\/32 (12.5%)] and B [3\/32 (9.4%)] with relative risks of 3.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–8.3; P<\/I> = 0.035] and 4.0 (95% CI 1.2–12.8; P<\/I> = 0.020) compared with Groups A and B, respectively. Compared with baseline, in Groups A and C, a significant improvement in clinical and biochemical androgen and insulin sensitivity indexes was observed. In the same two groups, the insulin sensitivity index was significantly (P<\/I> < 0.05) better than that in Group B.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSIONS<\/p>\n
In overweight and obese CC-resistant PCOS patients, a 6-week intervention of SET and a hypocaloric diet was effective in increasing the probability of ovulation under CC treatment.<\/p>\n
The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT0100468.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BACKGROUND Clomiphene citrate (CC) is the first-line therapy for the induction of ovulation in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but ~20% of patients are unresponsive. The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that a … Continue reading