The present study was undertaken to assess the usefulness of clomiphene citrate challenge test(C CCT) as a predictor of ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). From May 1994 to July 1995, thirty-nine infertile women who had
undergone CCCT before and COH attempts for intrauterine insemination(IUI) were allocated to the study group. Baseline (day 2~3 of the menstrual cycle) and response levels(day 10) of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH) were
measured before and after administration of 100mg CC on dyas of 5~9 of the menstrual cycle. COH was performed using long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH) agonist in all patients included in this study. The hormonal parameters
obtained
during the CCCT were compared to the numbers of follicle(≥14mm) and values of estradiol(E2) on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) administration during subsequent COH cycle. The sum of FSH measured before and after CC intake, is the
parameter
that correlate best with response to COH. The upper limit of the normal value for this parameter, established by considering the CCCT performed on 10 patients who became pregnant, was 18.5mIU/ml. Twelve patients who presented a CCCT above the
normal
value were compared with patients with a normal test result. In these patients, the numbers of follicle(≥14mm) and the values of E2 on the day of hCG administration were significantly lower than in patents with a CCCT result within the normal
value,
COH required more ampules(75IU) of gonadotropin administered, longer duration of ovarian stimulation, and no pregnancy was obtained in patients with abnormal CCCT. We conclued that CCCT appears to be a reliable method to predict individual
ovarian
response to COH.
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