INTERFERENCE WITH UTERINE BLOOD MOW BY CLOMIPHENE CITRATE IN WOMEN WITH UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY

Objective: To investigate the effect of clomiphene citrate on the uter ine blood now in women with unexplained infertility. Methods: Twenty-o ne women who had normal uterine blood now (pulsatility index [PI] less than 3 from the LH peak to the middle luteal phase of a natural ovula tory cycle) were enrolled in this study. Patients were given clomiphen e citrate (100 mg/day) from days 5-9 of the next ovulatory cycle. The PI values measured in the natural and clomiphene citrate-treated cycle s were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance. Their co rrelations with the estradiol (E2) and progesterone concentrations in the treatment cycle were calculated using the Pearson correlation coef ficient. Result: In the natural cycles of those with normal uterine bl ood now, the highest impedance of uterine blood now was detected at th e late follicular phase, then blood flow increased during the luteal p hase. In the clomiphene citrate-treated cycles, a statistically signif icant decrease in uterine blood flow also occurred during the early lu teal phase (P < .05). No significant correlation of E2 or progesterone serum concentrations with PI values of the uterine artery could be fo und in either natural or clomiphene citrate-treated cycles. Conclusion : The use of clomiphene citrate decreases the uterine blood flow durin g the early luteal phase, a periimplantation stage.