Induction of ovulation with clomiphene and human chorionic gonadotrophin in women with hyperprolactinaemic amenorrhoea.

Seventeen women complaining of infertility (one with primary amenorrhoea, 14 with secondary amenorrhoea, and two with oligomenorrhoea) all had hyperprolactinaemia and were treated with clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), and plasma oestradiol, FSH and LH levels were measured. Although adequate pre-ovulatory oestradiol levels were present, the surge of LH was absent until the injection of HCG after which all patients ovulated. There were 12 pregnancies in 9 patients resulting in 10 full-term livebirths, one premature livebirth and one continuing pregnancy. The relevance of these findings to the possible role of prolactin in amenorrhoea is discussed.