Twenty-five infertile women conceived while taking tamoxifen (TMX). Daily serum profiles of 5 of the 25 TMX-induced conception cycles were elucidated and compared with those found in 5 normal cycles. In spite of lower levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone during the follicular phases, estradiol concentrations were higher in the TMX-induced conception cycles. It is suggested that this may be due to a direct ovarian effect of TMX as one of its major mechanisms in the course of folliculogenesis. On the other hand, progesterone concentrations on days 6 and 7 during the luteal phases were also higher in the TMX-induced conception cycles. It is suggested that this may be due to a luteotropic influence at the blastocyst stage.
PMID 6436061 6436061 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)48137-9 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)48137-9
Cite this article
Tajima, C. (1984). Endocrine profiles in tamoxifen-induced conception cycles. Fertility and sterility, 42(4), 548-553. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)48137-9
Tajima C. Endocrine profiles in tamoxifen-induced conception cycles. Fertil Steril. 1984;42(4):548-553. doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)48137-9
Tajima, C. "Endocrine profiles in tamoxifen-induced conception cycles." Fertility and sterility, vol. 42, no. 4, 1984, pp. 548-553.
Daily estimations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone were made in the serum of eight infertile patients from day 1 through the follicular phase during menstrual cycles before and after tamoxifen therapy. Tamoxifen therapy was found to shorten the follicular phase from 15.4 +/- 0.8 days (mean +/- standard error of the mean) to 14.0 +/- 0.6 days (difference not significant) and to lengthen the luteal phase from 12.8 +/- 0.4 days to 14.1 +/- 0.8 days (P less than 0.05). The mean estradiol concentration in the eight patients during tamoxifen treatment cycles rose on day 8 (3 days after starting tamoxifen treatment) and increased significantly (P less than 0.05) from day 10 to midcycle. The integrated follicular phase estradiol concentration in the tamoxifen treatment cycle increased to 2450.1 +/- 208.1 pg/ml/cycle, and was significantly higher (P less than 0.025) than that in the nontreatment cycle. In contrast, the concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin during the follicular phase and at the midcycle peak of tamoxifen treatment cycles were not significantly different from those of the nontreatment cycle. These results suggest that the mechanism of tamoxifen in improving folliculogenesis may involve a direct action on the ovary without intervention of the hypothalamic-pituitary system.
Tamoxifen (Norvadex), synthesized by the Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd., is a triphenylethylene derivative having a clomiphene-like structure and displays anti-estrogenic activities. In this study we used tamoxifen for the treatment of anovulatory infertility and investigated the clinical results. Induction rate of ovulation recorded 100% in the patients with sporadic anovulatory cycle, 83.3% in those with persistent anovulatory cycle, 70% in those with the first grade amenorrhea type I and 66.7% in those with the first grade amenorrhea type II. However, tamoxifen was absolutely ineffective against the second grade amenorrhea. The patients with sporadic or persistent anovulatory cycle responded to 40 mg-daily tamoxifen-treatment, recording 100% of ovulatory induction rate. The patients with the first grade amenorrhea also responded to 60 mg-daily treatment, indicating 70% of ovulatory induction rate. The rate of pregnancy established in the women desiring pregnancy marked 15.4%, and 2 out of 4 women with successful pregnancy experienced spontaneous abortion. Out of 4 patients who did not respond to the previous clomiphene treatment, 3 women accomplished ovulatory induction with tamoxifen. The endocrinological dynamics in the tamoxifen treatment were similar to those in the clomiphene treatment.
Borenstein R et al., 1989·Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol
Fourteen pregnancies were achieved with tamoxifen therapy in 12 women who failed to conceive with clomiphene citrate. There were no side-effects and fewer treatment cycles were required than with clomiphene citrate treatment. Ovulation and cervical score with tamoxifen therapy were significantly higher (p less than 0.005).
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Practice Committee of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, 2026·Fertility and sterility
Luteal phase deficiency (LPD) is a clinical diagnosis associated with abnormal luteal phase length of ≤10 days. Potential etiologies of LPD include inadequate progesterone duration, inadequate progesterone levels, or endometrial progesterone resistance. Luteal phase deficiency has been described in association with medical conditions, but also in fertile, normally menstruating women. Although progesterone is important for the process of implantation and early embryonic development, LPD has not been proven to be an independent entity causing infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss. Controversy exists regarding the multiple proposed measures for diagnosing LPD, and assuming it can be diagnosed accurately, whether treatment improves outcomes. This document replaces the document of the same name, last published in 2021 (Fertil Steril 2021;115(6):1416-23).