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Fertility Drugs
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What are fertility drugs? Fertility drugs are medicines used to help women get pregnant when they haven't been able to get pregnant after trying for at least a year. The fertility drug used most often is clomiphene. Its brand names are Clomid, Milophene, and Serophene. How do they work? A woman may have trouble getting pregnant because her ovaries are not releasing eggs. Fertility drugs work by causing the woman's ovaries to release mature eggs each month. An egg that is mature is ready to be fertilized by sperm and then develop into a baby. The release of eggs is called ovulation. The drugs also improve hormone production, which prepares the lining of the uterus to accept the egg. Clomiphene is easier to use than other fertility drugs because it can be taken as a pill rather than given as a shot. It's usually taken after the menstrual period each month. If ovulation or pregnancy does not happen after 3 months, your provider will decide if you need more clomiphene or if other treatments would be better. It is important not to overuse this drug. It is not usually taken for more than 12 months. Other types of fertility drugs are given as shots. They are a type of drug called gonadotropins and they usually cost more and are harder to use than clomiphene. With some of these drugs, frequent checks with ultrasound are needed to see if the drug is working. These drugs must be given very carefully by an experienced doctor. When are they used? Fertility drugs are a treatment for infertility. In general, a couple is considered to be infertile if they have not been able to get pregnant after 1 year of regular, unprotected intercourse. Before fertility drugs are used, both the man and the woman must have thorough medical exams for other treatable causes of infertility. Sometimes making lifestyle changes or treating menstrual or medical conditions may solve the problem. You should not take fertility drugs if you may be pregnant already or you have unexplained uterine bleeding or liver disease. What should I watch out for? Before deciding to take any fertility drug, you should discuss the benefits and the side effects with your health care provider. Because fertility drugs affect the female hormones, there can be some side effects such as:
Clomiphene has also been associated with the formation of painful cysts on the ovaries. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs. The cysts are not cancerous and usually go away after you have stopped taking clomiphene for 1 to 2 months. Ask your provider when you should call about side effects caused by the drug. Am I more likely to have twins or triplets? Another effect of fertility drugs is multiple births (twins, triplets, and more). With multiple births, there is an increased chance of complications such as low birth weight. However, this occurs in only about 5 to 10% of pregnancies. Does clomiphene cause any other problems? Research studies years ago seemed to show a link between using clomiphene for long periods of time (1 year or more) and cancer of the ovary. More recent studies have not shown such a link. This is still being studied. Sometimes the drug may cause changes in the cervical mucus that make it hard for sperm to get into the uterus. In this case you may need to take low doses of the female hormone estrogen. There have been no reports of more birth defects in babies whose mothers took clomiphene than in normal pregnancies. Fertility drugs are expensive and may not be covered by health insurance. It is important for you to decide what treatments you can afford, both emotionally and financially, as you think about treatment for infertility. Discuss your feelings and concerns with your provider before you begin treatment. For more information, check The National Infertility Association's Web site at http://www.resolve.org.  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File FMY4319F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.
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