Clomiphene Citrate Plus Cabergoline in Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Clomiphene Citrate Plus Cabergoline in Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder of reproductive aged
 women and affects approximately 5-12 % of the female population.

 In 2003 in Rotterdam , Rotterdam diagnostic criteria were redefined PCOS as affected
 individuals must have two out of the following three criteria:

 1. Oligo- and/or anovulation, (ovulation occurs less than once every 35 days).

 2. Hyperandrogenism, clinical signs include hirsutism, acne, alopecia, and frank
 virilization, while chemical indicators include raised concentrations of total
 testosterone and androstenedione , and elevated free androgen index.

 3. Polycystic ovaries on sonographic examination, presence of 12 or more follicles in
 either ovary measuring 2-9 mm in diameter, increased ovarian volume more than 10 cm3
 and/or increase in stromal echogenicity. Clearly, according to the Rotterdam diagnostic
 criteria, the majority of women with PCOS can be diagnosed without the need of
 laboratory examinations.

 Clomiphene citrate (CC) is still the first-line medication for the induction of ovulation. It
 is an anti-estrogenic compound made up of two isomers, enclomiphene and zuclomiphene; the
 latter being the more potent of the two. It is a non-steroidal compound closely resembling
 estrogen. CC acts by blocking estrogen receptors, particularly in the hypothalamus, thereby
 signaling a lack of circulating estrogens and inducing a change in the pulsatile release of
 gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This induces release of follicle stimulating hormone
 from the anterior pituitary and is often enough to set the cycle of events leading to
 ovulation into motion.

 Cabergoline, ergot-derived dopamine agonists with a very long half life, is an effective
 prolactin suppressor. Cabergoline oral administration contains a weekly dose of 0.5 - 3 mg,
 which could be increased, if needed, to twice a week. This medicine has slight dopamine
 agonistic side effects, headache being the most common one. Treatment in the very beginning
 should start with a partial dose (half a pill) at bedtime with a small amount of food. Low
 incidence of side effects and its weekly dose has made Cabergoline a choice drug for
 treatment of related diseases.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  2 or more of PCOS signs according to Rotterdam diagnostic criteria (2003).-

 -  Primary or secondary infertility.-

 -  Absence of galactorrhoea

 -  Normal serum prolactin or slightly elevated (up to 50 ng/dl)

 -  Normal hysterosalpingography

 -  Normal spermogram

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Women on other line of treatment as aromatase inhibitors, gonadotrophins, or
 tamoxifen.

 -  Known hypersensitivity for Clomiphene citrate or cabergoline.

 -  Other factors of infertility as tubal factor, uterine factor or male factor.