A comparison of clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin for use in conjunction with intrauterine insemination

Objective: To compare the outcome of superovulation using clomiphene citrate (CC) versus hMG in conjunction with IUI. Design: Sequentially assigned, observational study. Couples initially were assigned to receive either CC or hMG for three cycles. Setting: The Clinical Outpatient Department of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Patient(s): Eighty-three infertile couples. Intervention(s): IUI with hMG use. Main Outcome Measure(s): Conception rate, term pregnancy rate (PR), and pregnancy complications, such as spontaneous miscarriage and multiple gestation. Result(s): Of 83 couples who underwent at least one treatment cycle, 29 (35%) conceived during the study period. The relative rate of conception for hMG versus CC was 2.08 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93 to 4.68). The relative term PR was 2.10 (95% CI, 0.77 to 5.73) for hMG versus CC. There was no difference in the miscarriage rate for hMG versus CC. Conclusion(s): Both the conception rate and the term PR were higher using hMG, compared with CC, in combination with IUI, and showed a trend toward statistical significance. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.