|
|
|
The Advantages of Taking Clomid
Each year, 1 out of every 6 couples experience difficulties in conceiving a child. A variety of different treatment options exist for the treatment of infertility. One of the most prescribed medications for female fertility problems is the drug Clomid.
What is Clomid?
Clomid, also known as clomiphene citrate, is a fertility medication that stimulates the production and release of the hormones that cause ovulation. It is generally the first course of treatment for women who are infertile because they do not ovulate or ovulate very irregularly. This is because Clomid is very easy to use, since it is taken as an oral pill. It also causes very few side effects so women typically do not need to be closely monitored while they take it. Clomid is taken for 5 consecutive days early in the menstrual cycle and may be taken for 3 to 6 cycles.
Primary Uses of Clomid
Clomid is primarily used to stimulate ovulation in women who do not ovulate or ovulate infrequently. Regular ovulation is a key component to fertility, so encouraging egg production and ovulation can have a positive effect. This fertility medication is used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs at the same time when a woman is preparing for assisted reproduction methods like in vitro fertilization. Clomid may also be used to regulate ovulation in a woman who is going to have artificial insemination.
Other Uses of Clomid
Clomid can be used for other purposes as well. A clomiphene challenge test is sometimes used to evaluate a woman’s fertility. This is a test of a woman’s ovarian reserve, also known as ovulation and egg quality. Clomid elevates a woman’s follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level. If that level does not return to normal the day after she stops taking Clomid, it indicates a low ovarian reserve and fertility problems related to low egg quality. A further use of Clomid is to treat infertility in men by increasing sperm counts.
Effectiveness at Treating Infertility
Clomid is highly effective at treating women who have infertility caused by not ovulating or ovulating very infrequently. Approximately 80% of these women will ovulate using Clomid. Within 9 cycles of treatment, 70% to 75% of the women who begin ovulating will become pregnant. Clomid may also make it more likely for couples with unexplained fertility problems to get pregnant, although there is limited evidence to support this use. This fertility medication may also be successful in treating infertility due to Polycystic Ovary Disease, especially when combined with other medications.
Side Effects
Like most fertility medications, Clomid has a few side effects. The most well-known side effect is that women who take Clomid or its generic, clomiphene, have a 5% to 8% chance of multiple pregnancy, which is much higher than the 1% to 2% chance in the general population. These births are almost exclusively twins. Other side effects include blurred vision, headaches, hot flashes, irritability, nausea, breast tenderness, thick cervical mucus, and abdominal pain. Ovarian hyperstimulation, which causes swollen ovaries, is also a side effect and in rare cases can be life-threatening.
If you and your partner are having trouble conceiving, Clomid may help. Consult your doctor to find out if Clomid is the right choice to treat your fertility problems.
|
|
|