Androgens for Improving Ovarian Response to Stimulation

The intriguing role of androgens in follicular physiology and their therapeutic potential in female infertility have drawn a great deal of attention in the last decade. Dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone supplementation prior to ovarian stimulation and aromatase inhibitors as an adjunct to gonadotropins have been tested to enhance follicle growth in women with poor ovarian reserve and premature ovarian failure. However, a critical appraisal of the available evidence shows that the proposed regimens failed to live up to the hype. In the absence of robust data on clinical efficacy and safety, their use should be regarded as empirical.