Oral sildenafil citrate: a potential approach for improvement of endometrial thickness and treatment of unexplained infertility in women

R.M. Sarhan, S.A.M. Salem, M.H. Elkomy, R.M. Albuhayran, R.R.S. Hussein, M.S. Boshra

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt. mhalkomy@ju.edu.sa

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• Obstetrics
• Reproductive Medicine

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the impact of using sildenafil citrate as an adjuvant with clomiphene citrate (CC) in the treatment of women with unexplained infertility.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 130 women with unexplained infertility were enrolled in a prospective randomized study. After dividing into two groups, all patients received CC 50 mg-BD from the 2nd to the 7th day of the cycle. Oral sildenafil citrate 20 mg was given BD to the study group from the end of menstruation till ovulation. A transvaginal ultrasound was carried out for all patients to assess ovulation, number of follicles, and endometrial thickness (ET). The beta-hCG blood test was used to determine pregnancy two weeks after ovulation followed by an ultrasound to confirm viability. Adverse effects were recorded and miscarriage, ectopic, and multi-fetal pregnancy were followed up for twelve weeks.

RESULTS: Median ET in the study group was 8 mm compared to 7 mm in the control group (p<0.01). The number of pregnancies increased in the study group but with no significant difference. The median ET was greater in the study group with an infertility duration of less than 2 years. Headache was the most significant adverse effect in the study group (9.2% vs. 1.5%, p=0.052).

CONCLUSIONS: Adding sildenafil citrate to CC is a good choice for overcoming the antiestrogenic action of CC and improving ET in women with unexplained infertility, especially in those with less than 2 years of infertility.

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