Bromocriptine for unexplained subfertility in women

BACKGROUND: Bromocriptine improves hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea and so could also be helpful in the treatment of unexplained subfertility in women. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of bromocriptine in women with unexplained subfertility. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Subfertility Review Group specialised register of controlled trials was searched. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials comparing bromocriptine with placebo or no treatment in women with unexplained subfertility. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers applied the eligibility criteria and assessed trial quality independently. MAIN RESULTS: Three trials involving of 127 women were included. All trials were double-blind comparisons with placebo, and one was of crossover design. Conception rates with bromocriptine treatment did not improve compared with placebo (odds ratio was 1.12, 95% confidence interval 0.48 to 2.57). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is not enough evidence to evaluate bromocriptine use in women with unexplained subfertility. However trials for women with unexplained subfertility who also have expressible galactorrhea may be worthwhile.