Induction of ovulation with an estrogen antagonist, tamoxifen.

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Abstract
TSUIKI, A., UEHARA, S., KYONO, K., SAITO, A., HOSHI, K., HOSHIAI, H., HIRANO, M. and SUZUKI, M. Induction of Ovulation with an Estrogen Antagonist, Tamoxifen. Tohoku J. exp. Med. 1984, 144(1), 21-31 - Tamoxifen (Norvadex®), synthesized by the Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd., is a triphenylethylene derivative having a clomiphene-like structure and displays antiestrogenic activities. In this study we used tamoxifen for the treatment of anovulatory infertility and investigated the clinical results. Induction rate of ovulation recorded 100% in the patients with sporadic anovulatory cycle, 83.3% in those with persistent anovulatory cycle, 70% in those with the first grade amenorrhea type I and 66.7% in those with the first grade amenorrhea type II. However, tamoxifen was absolutely ineffective against the second grade amenorrhea. The patients with sporadic or persistent anovulatory cycle responded to 40 mg-daily tamoxifen-treatment, recording 100% of ovulatory induction rate. The patients with the first grade amenorrhea also responded to 60 mg-daily treatment, indicating 70% of ovulatory induction rate. The rate of pregnancy established in the women desiring pregnancy marked 15.4%, and 2 out of 4 women with successful pregnancy experienced spontaneous abortion. Out of 4 patients who did not respond to the previous clomiphene treatment, 3 women accomplished ovulatory induction with tamoxifen. The endocrinological dynamics in the tamoxifen treatment were similar to those in the clomiphene treatment.