Vitamin D for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Clomiphene Resistant Women

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting women in their reproductive age. Genetically it is thought to be involving defects in primary cellular control mechanisms resulting in expression of chronic anovulation and androgen excess. Being familial condition , some researches showed it is autosomal dominant while others thought it is complex trait with oligogenic basis.

Diagnosing poly cystic ovary syndrome is based on finding two of three criteria according to Rotterdam consensus 2003 : oligo/anovulation, clinical/ biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism, ultrasound finding of polycystic ovaries. While insulin resistance which affects 50 - 70 % of PCOS patients is considered to be the main reason for hyperandrogenic features, PCOS also leads to various health problems including metabolic disorders (obesity - Diabetes Mellitus - Cardiovascular diseases) in addition to menstrual irregularities and infertility .

In PCOS women there is polymorphism in Vitamin-D receptor (VDR) gene associated with vitamin D level in blood . This gene is isolated from the female reproductive organs . In VDR null mice; uterine hypoplasia, impaired folliculogenesis and infertility is noted . That's why it is thought to be contributing in the genomic regulation of reproduction.

Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of Vitamin D supplementation to PCOS women they found that PCOS women have hypovitaminosis D3 , with increasing evidence that vitamin D affects insulin and glucose metabolism . vitamin D intake in PCOS women may improve hormonal profiles in addition to having anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects . Another study concluded that Vitamin D and calcium supplementation to PCOS women have a positive effect on BMI, follicular maturation, regularity of menses, androgen related symptoms, infertility and insulin resistance . Moreover, Vitamin D has a crucial role in ovulation induction in women with PCOS.

Vitamin D and calcium in combination with metformin have significant effect on menstrual regulation and follicular development.

Insulin sensitizers such as metformin have been extensively investigated in the management of PCOS. Metformin decreases blood glucose levels by enhancing peripheral glucose uptake, decreasing intestinal glucose absorption and suppressing hepatic glucose levels. In anovulatory women with PCOS, metformin decreases insulin levels, luteinizing hormone (LH) production and circulating androgen levels.

Clomiphene citrate is an estrogen agonist and antagonist. It works by competitively binding estrogen receptors in the thalamus and as it remains in place for an extended period of time, it depletes the body's estrogen concentration at the hypothalamic level. As the body perceives low levels of estrogen, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is released which in turn stimulates pituitary release of follicle stimulating hormone ( FSH) which promotes follicular growth and maturation. If pregnancy is not achieved by 3-6 cycles, other treatments should be considered.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of PCOS as defined by the Rotterdam criteria
• Females age 20-35 years old
• BMI 18-30 kg/m2
• 1ry or secondary infertility
• Clomiphene resistant ( patients didn't - show response: ovulate to dose of 200 mg clomid per day for 3 cycles )
• Willingness to comply with study protocol for 5 months
• Willingness to give written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Previous metformin intake
• ovarian drilling
• tubal factor as evidenced by hysterosalpingogram or laparoscope
• endometrial pathology ex., polyp
• Myometrial pathology ex., adenomyosis or fibroid
• abnormal semen parameters
• Cushing syndrome
• Hyperprolactinemia
• Adrenal secreting tumor