Study procedures
ADVERSE EFFECTS
At the start of their menstrual cycle, participants were instructed to contact the investigator to arrange the ovulation induction schedule. The allocated treatment medication regimen was taken from days 3 through 7 of one menstrual cycle. Home urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) tests were performed twice daily, in the morning and at night, starting on cycle day 12 until a positive result was obtained or until cycle day 21 if the results continued to be negative. Patients were instructed to send pictures of the urinary LH test results to the researcher to confirm the results. Regular intercourse, performed two to three times per week, was recommended starting on cycle day 12 and on the day of the positive urinary LH test. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed on day 12 to day 14 of the cycle by a single operator throughout the project, and follicular growth and endometrial thickness were recorded. Serum progesterone levels were obtained 7 days after a positive urinary LH test or on cycle day 21 or day 22 in cases with negative urinary LH. A urine pregnancy test was performed 7 days after an ovulatory serum progesterone level or on cycle day 35 if there was no confirmation of ovulation and no menstrual period. Women with a positive urine pregnancy test were scheduled for a transvaginal ultrasound to confirm pregnancy 2 to 3 weeks later. A questionnaire was used to elicit information about any adverse effects of the study medications during the study period.