Abstract

Clomiphene citrate (Clomid), when given alone, is generally considered ineffective in inducing ovulation in women with hyperprolactinemia. This study reports the treatment of 29 infertile women with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea. Twenty-one patients (eighteen of whom had previously had no ovulation response to Clomid alone) were treated with a combined regimen of Clomid (100 to 200 mg/day for 5 days) and two injections of 5000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), the first 8 to 10 days after Clomid withdrawal and a second injection 1 week later. Basal body temperature charts, conception, and/or plasma progesterone measurements showed that 19 patients ovulated (90%). There were 17 pregnancies in 12 of 21 patients (57% pregnancy rate) with 15 single live births and two abortions. When bromocriptine (Parlodel) became available, a total of 22 patients (including 14 patients previously treated with Clomid/HCG, six of them successfully) with amenorrhea associated with hyperprolactinemia were treated with this drug with dosages varying from 2.5 mg to 15 mg/day. Ovulation was confirmed in 20 patients (90%). There were 17 pregnancies in 15 patients (68% pregnancy rate) with 15 single live births and two first-trimester abortions. In all, 21 of 29 patients (73%) achieved one or more pregnancies resulting in live births with one or both of the above treatments. It is concluded that a combined Clomid/HCG regimen can often be used as an effective alternative to bromocriptine therapy in the treatment of infertility associated with hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea.