IT IS A NON-STEROIDAL AGENT WHICH STIMULATES OVULATION IN A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF APPROPRIATELY SELECTED ANOVULATORY WOEMN. IT HAS NO PROGESTATIONAL, ANDROGENIC OR ANTIANDROGENIC EFFECTS AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO INTERFERE WITH PITUITARY-ADRENAL OR PITUITARY-THYROID FUNCTIONS. PROMISING RESULTS CAN BE ACHIEVED IN THE SUBFERTILE MALES WITH OLIGOSPERMIA. CLOMIPHENE CAN HAVE GONAD-STIMULATING EFFECTS ON SOME MEN WHO HAVE PITUTARY GLANDS AND TESTES THAT ARE POTENTIALLY RESPONSIVE. ENDOGENOUS GONADOTROPHIN STIMULATION IS PRODUCED IN OLIGOSPERMIC MALES IN WHOM BIOPSY SHOW MILD GERMINAL CELL HYPOPLASIA. CLOMIPHENE CITRATE IS CAPABLE OF INTERACTING WITH ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR-CONTAINING TISSUES, INCLUDING THE HYPOTHALAMUS, PITUITARY, OVARY, ENDOMETRIUM, VAGINA, AND CERVIX. IT MAY COMPETE WITH ESTROGEN FOR ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR-BINDING SITES AND MAY DELAY REPLENISHMENT OF INTRACELLULAR ESTROGEN RECEPTORS. CLOMIPHENE CITRATE INITIATES A SERIES OF ENDOCRINE EVENTS CULMINATING IN A PREOVULATORY GONADOTROPIN SURGE AND SUBSEQUENT FOLLICULAR RUPTURE.