RSS
Home
Pregnancy rates climb with Clomid
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
To combat infertility, many women are turning to clomiphene citrate as their first course of action. Sold under the brand name Serophene or Clomid, it is the most commonly prescribed medication for women with ovulation issues, PCO (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and/or luteal phase defects, however it does not work for women with blocked fallopian tubes.
Treatment generally begins with a 50mg dose of Clomid. This will assist in regulating and/or inducing ovulation by stimulating hormones that will produce or release mature eggs from the ovaries.
Affordable and prescribed from your doctor or purchased through an international pharmaceutical source online without a prescription, a one-cycle 50mg dose may only cost about $50.
Studies indicate this easy to take oral medication offers great ovulation results for approximately 40% of the women it is prescribed to. Clomid can be taken for up to six menstrual cycles, but most doctors agree that if it doesn’t produce a pregnancy within the first three cycles, another treatment should be considered.
Taken orally on days 3 to 7 or 5 to 9 of your menstrual cycle, Clomid signals the pituitary gland to begin secreting more FSH and LH hormones. At this signal, the ovaries will typically begin to mature eggs and release them; sometimes even more than one.
Used alone or as part of what is known as superovulation on women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), Clomid offers some patients the chance for multiple egg retrievals or ultimately multiple births. The live birth rate for women using Clomid is climbing and thought to be between 30 and 60 percent. Studies also suggest there is a 10% increase in the birth of twins.
Monitoring your body during this treatment is vital to the success of the treatment. Work with your doctor or fertility specialist to make sure you are not developing a hostile cervical mucus environment known to affect about one third of all Clomid users. Hostile cervical mucus will adversely affect sperm on contact.
Generally with mild side effects, Clomid's adverse reactions may range from ovarian enlargement or hyperstimulation, hot flushes, abdominal discomfort, breast discomfort, nausea, vomiting, visual impairments, headaches or abnormal uterine bleeding.
There are potential risks however with the drug. A 1994 study cites a connection with an increase in risk of ovarian cancer in women who took clomiphene (Clomid) for 12 or more months. Additionally, there are a number of women using Clomid without the advice of a medical professional who are not the right candidates for this med, thus reducing their potential to conceive.
TO RECEIVE CINDY FERDA'S WEEKLY COLUMN ON PREGNANCY RELATED TOPICS, CLICK SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL ABOVE AND ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. WE RESPECT YOUR PRIVACY. YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH ANYONE ELSE.
Other pregnancy related articles by Cindy Ferda
Pregnancy rates climb with Clomid
Related Articles:
Comments
