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The Side Effects of Using Common Types of Fertility Medication
While it can be hugely helpful to couples who are struggling to conceive, the side effects of fertility medication can make using them difficult and even painful. It may be necessary to try different doses or more than one kind of fertility medication in order to come up with a solution that your body can handle.
What Does Fertility Medication Do?
When couples are having trouble conceiving, there are a variety of things that may be going wrong. When the woman is having fertility problems, the most common issue is that the hormones that cause eggs to mature and be released, also called ovulation, are not working correctly. There are three main types of fertility medications that can help with stimulating and regulating ovulation. Each stimulates ovulation in a different way and because of this, each carries with it different kinds of side effects, though some of the side effects overlap.
Side Effects of Clomiphene
Clomiphene, known by the brand names Clomid and Serophene, is often the first drug prescribed for female infertility. It helps by stimulating production of the hormones that cause egg maturation and ovulation. Side effects of this fertility medication include hot flashes, nausea, abdominal pain, breast tenderness, headaches, blurred vision, and irritability. Ovarian hyperstimulation, which can cause anything mild abdominal discomfort to severe and life-threatening swelling and pain, is also a possible side effect. Finally, multiple births, particularly twins, happen in 5-8% of pregnancies.
Side Effects of Gonadotropin
If a woman does not respond to clomiphene, the injectable fertility medication gonadotropin may be used. The woman is injected directly with the hormones necessary for egg maturation and ovulation, bypassing the brain system that produces them. Side effects of this fertility medication include enlargement of the ovaries in 5 to 10% of women, headache, and abdominal pain. Ovarian hyperstimulation, which can be life-threatening, may also occur. There is a 35% risk of miscarriage after using this drug. Finally, multiple pregnancies, including twins, triplet, or more, is fairly common.
Side Effects of Bromocriptine
A fairly unusual source of female infertility is the existence of a small benign tumor on the pituitary gland. This tumor, called an adenoma, may stimulate the production of prolactin, a hormone that can make a woman stop ovulating. Bromocriptine is prescribed to decrease the production of prolactin, allowing the woman to ovulate. Side effects of this fertility medication include mild to moderate symptoms like fatigue, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness. Bromocriptine does not increase the chance of multiple births because it does not stimulate the ovaries.
Avoiding Side Effects
For the most part, the side effects of fertility medication are mild and manageable. Taking oral medication pills with food can help prevent nausea and stomach upsets. Applying ice to injection sites before getting the shot and applying heat afterwards will prevent pain and bruising. Other common symptoms like insomnia, irritability, weight gain, bloating, breast tenderness, and ovarian swelling are normal but there is little you can do to treat them. If you have sharp pain, abrupt changes in vision, stomach distension, vomiting, and other severe symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
Getting treatment for fertility problems may be an important part of getting pregnant. However, the side effects of fertility medications may be painful and, in some cases, life threatening. Make sure you talk to your doctor about the side effects of any medication you may be prescribed.
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