Cilostazol and Its Effects on Resumption of Meiosis in the Human Ovary

Combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs) are the most commonly used hormonal form of birth control in the United States with at least 87% of women of reproductive age reporting oral contraceptive use at some point in their lives (9). Despite their frequent use, the six and twelve month discontinuation rates for oral contraceptive pills are 31 and 47 % respectively (17), with common reasons for discontinuation attributed to the side effects of abnormal bleeding, headache, and weight gain. Additionally, COCs are contraindicated in certain groups of women as outlined by The Centers for Disease Control Medical Eligibility Criteria (11). Given the high prevalence of oral contraceptive users who commonly discontinue use secondary to side effects or who are not eligible for use as a result of underlying health conditions, the development of novel oral non-hormonal methods that are equally effective at pregnancy prevention are warranted. This current study aims to evaluate the effect of an FDA approved drug, Cilostazol, on human oocyte maturation. Such a study has not been conducted to date. If Cilostazol demonstrates an ability in humans to affect resumption of meiosis, then this non-hormonal agent could be uses as a possible contraceptive agent in the future. This knowledge would have profound reproductive health implications. The investigators propose that women undergoing treatment with the FDA approved dose of 100mg PO every 12 hours of Cilostazol will demonstrate an impairment of egg maturation in comparison to paired historic controls following ovarian follicle stimulation.