Cancer Drug may be the Next Fertility Treatment for Women with PCOS

A new drug could help women with polycystic ovarian syndrome become pregnant. According to a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that a cancer drug may be more efficient than a common treatment used to increase the likelihood of fertility. 

For the study, doctors prescribed clomiphene along with the drug letrozole, which is commonly used as a breast cancer treatment for postmenopausal women dealing with cancer.

Findings showed that about 28 percent of women randomly assigned to take letrozole had a live birth while another 19 percent assigned to take clomiphene, did, as well. All participants had about five monthly treatment cycles of the durgs.

Despite various side-effects, ranging from fatigue to dizziness and even hot flashes in some cases, researchers found that there were no significant differences in the rate of twins and triplets or miscarriages and birth defects.

Researchers said these results could very likely change medical practice and encourage doctors to try letrozole before other options, according to Charles Coddington, a professor at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic and president for Assisted Reproductive Technology, via USA Today.

"Clomiphine has its drawbacks," said Richard Legro, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and lead author on the study reported by Medical Xpress. "It's only 22 percent successful with up to six cycles of treatment in producing a successful birth, it has a high multiple-pregnancy rate in comparison to unassisted conception, and it has side effects including hot flashes and mood changes." 

Both of the drug options used in the experiment are much less expensive than other treatments, according to researchers.