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48B - Ultrasound Monitoring Is Not Required for Letrozole Treatment

Against

from Section IX - Hormones and the Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2021

Roy Homburg
Affiliation:
Homerton University Hospital, London
Adam H. Balen
Affiliation:
Leeds Centre for Reproductive Medicine
Robert F. Casper
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
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Summary

Since first reports in the literatures by Mitwally and Casper, along the last two decades, the aromatase inhibitor letrozole has been found as a useful and safe agent for ovulation induction in anovulatory women, e.g., PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), ovarian superovulation in ovulatory women, e.g., unexplained infertility, and in conjunction with gonadotropins to achieve better ovarian response during assisted reproduction (1-5). This debate discusses if ultrasound is ‘not’ required during letrozole treatment ‘alone’ as an agent for ovarian stimulation. I am against not using ultrasound monitoring during letrozole treatment. I think ultrasound is required in patients undergoing letrozole treatment, at two points: a baseline ultrasound when starting administration and a follow-up ultrasound few days after finishing letrozole administration. Ultrasound during letrozole treatment may be highly recommended, advisable and least required in the following situations: Highly recommended for safety when ruling out possible underlying pregnancy and ovarian cysts; Advisable to determine stimulation protocol, and response to letrozole treatment, as well as timing HCG administration and fertility treatment including timing intercourse and IUI; Least required to determine the risk of multiple pregnancy which is pretty low with letrozole treatment.

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Chapter
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

Mitwally, MF, Casper, RF. Aromatase inhibition: a novel method of ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Reprod. Technol. 2000;10(5):244–7.Google Scholar
Mitwally, MFM, Casper, RF. Reprint of: use of an aromatase inhibitor for induction of ovulation in patients with an inadequate response to clomiphene citrate. Fertil Steril. 2019 Oct;112(4S1):e178–82. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.08.087.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Diamond, MP, Mitwally, M, Casper, R, et al. Estimating rates of multiple gestation pregnancies: sample size calculation from the assessment of multiple intrauterine gestations from ovarian stimulation (AMIGOS) trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2011 Nov;32(6):902–8. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2011.07.009.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitwally, MF, Casper, RF. Single-dose administration of an aromatase inhibitor for ovarian stimulation. Fertil Steril. 2005 Jan;83(1):229–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitwally, MF, Casper, RF. LH surge is associated with higher LH levels and more physiologic estradiol levels in aromatase inhibitor ovarian stimulation cycles. Fertil Steril. Sept 2004;82(Suppl 2):S144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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