Open AccessStructural and Ultrastructural Patterns of the Human Preovulatory Endometrium Following Clomiphene Citrate Treatment
Author(s) -
Fedele Luigi,
Marchini Maurizio,
Baglioni Andrea,
Dorta Milena,
Candiani Giovanni Battista
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016348809004277
Subject(s) - endometrium , medicine , infertility , ovulation , clomifene , ultrastructure , histology , sterility , andrology , unexplained infertility , uterus , gynecology , endocrinology , pregnancy , ovulation induction , anatomy , biology , hormone , genetics
To investigate ultrastructural modifications in the endometrium of women receiving clomiphene citrate (CC) treatment, we performed endometrial biopsies in the preovulatory phase in 17 patients with anovulatory infertility and 16 normo‐ovulating women with tubal or male sterility. Histology, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) revealed midproliferative phase aspects in 11.7% of the treated group and 6% of the controls, late prolif erative aspects in 76.4% and 82%, and postovulation days 1–3 characteristics in 11.7% and 12% respectively. No significant differences were observed between the patients and controls; our data indicate that CC taken in a dose not exceeding 100 mg/day from day 3 of the cycle can induce endometrial maturation that is almost identical with that of a spontaneous preovulatory phase. This type of endometrium should therefore allow implantation of a fertilized egg and maintain unmodified the complex biohumoral relations with the embryo.