Ovulation and pregnancy rates with clomiphene citrate.

A review of recent experience with clomiphene citrate at the Yale-New Haven Medical Center yields the following conclusions: 1) Clomiphene citrate administered at high doses (150 mg and 200 mg) is effective in inducing ovulation in women who would otherwise have failed to conceive if treatment were restricted to only lower dosage regimens. 2) Therapy with clomiphene citrate should be initiated with the 50-mg dose. The 100-mg dose should be reserved for those who fail with the lower dose. 3) Children resulting from clomiphene-induced ovulations appear to be developing normally both mentally and physically. Congenital malformations found in children from clomiphene-induced pregnancies are those seen commonly in general obstetric practice resulting in no significant problems for the children. 4) After 3 ovulations with clomiphene citrate approximately 50% of the patients can be expected to conceive. A 50% conception rate after 3 ovulations with clomiphene citrate does not represent a discrepancy between ovulation rates and pregnancy results, for it agrees statistically with the results obtained for the general population.