ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on ovulation induction (OI) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcomes in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with clomiphene citrate (CC) failure or resistance. Material and Methods: A total of 130 nulliparous infertile patients diagnosed with PCOS were included in this prospective study. The first group of patients who were unable to conceive after the first treatment with CC received CoQ10 treatment at a dosage of 100 mg/bid for one month (study group). The other group (control group) received no treatment with CoQ10. The two groups were compared with each other in terms of cycle characteristics and success of the treatment for the subsequent three months. Results: The study group included 66 patients and the control group involved 64 patients. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of age, body mass index (BMI), and infertility type. All the study participants had previously received similar medical treatments for infertility. Duration of infertility was significantly longer in the study group as compared to that in the control group (3.4 ±1.5 vs. 2.9 ±1.1 years). Cumulative pregnancy rates were observed to be 18 (27.3%) and 21 (32.8%) in the study and control group, respectively. Conclusion: Short term CoQ10 supplementation was not found to be an effective adjuvant therapy for cumulative pregnancy rates in young infertile women with PCOS who have undergone ovulation induction with intrauterine insemination. Yet, this treatment may prove to be effective on some other subgroup of women.