Fertility Drugs
The most common solution for women suffering from infertility is to take prescribed fertility drugs. Taken either orally or via an injection, fertility drugs have always been and will continue to remain the primary treatment for infertility. These specialized drugs work with a woman’s body to release hormones that promote or regulate ovulation thereby aiding in the conception process. As previously mentioned, fertility drugs can be taken either orally or via an injection. Below is a list of the most common fertility drugs along with how they should be taken, effectiveness, and side effects.
CLOMIPHENE
Brand Name: Clomid, Serophene
How does it Work?
This particular drug is given to women who do not ovulate regularly by inducing the hypothalamus and pituitary gland within the brain to release hormones that are responsible for stimulating the ovaries to produce eggs.
How should it be taken?
The typical starting dosage is only 50 milligrams per day for 5 days. The dosage is started on the third, fourth, or fifth day of a woman’s menstrual cycle and ovulation should begin approximately 7 days after the last day of the menstrual cycle. If ovulation doesn’t begin the dosage can be increased and if ovulation still doesn’t occur, then other drugs may be necessary.
How effective is Clomiphene?
Between 60 – 80% of women who take this drug will experience ovulation and of this, almost half will conceive.
Are there any side effects?
As with any prescription drug, there are side effects. The good news is that the ones associated with clomiphene are rather mild which include hot flashes, bloating, nausea, headache, blurred vision, changes in cervical mucus which can sometimes inhibit the entrance of sperm into the uterus, and multiple births.
HUMAN MENOPAUSAL GONADTROPHINS (hMG)
Brand Names: Pergonal, Humegon, Repronex, Metrodin, Fertinex, Follistim, Gonal F, and Perganyl
How does it work?
This fertility drug is most commonly used for women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, who have not responded well to clomiphene, or for women who have unexplained infertility issues. This injectable drug is a mixture of two different hormones; luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that work to stimulate the ovaries to produce and mature eggs rather quickly. In fact, only 24 – 36 hours after receiving the injection, ovulation typically occurs.
How should it be taken?
Given as an injection, it can be given any time that a woman is not ovulating for a period of 7 to 12 consecutive days each month for a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months. Simply taking this drug for an extended period of time will not increase a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant.
How effective is hMG?
A rather large study indicated that between 70 – 85% of women taking this injection will ovulate while 7 – 14% will become pregnant.
Are there any side effects?
Yes. This drug has both mild and severe side effects. Some of the mild effects are blurred vision, abdominal tenderness, weight gain, fluid retention, and bloating. On the more serious side, hMG can cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome which is a fatal condition that causes the ovaries to swell to several times their normal size. It is estimated that this only occurs in about 3% of women on this drug.
BROMOCRIPTINE
Brand Names: Parlodel
How does it work?
This is a less commonly prescribed drug because it is only used for women who don’t ovulate as a result of the body producing too much prolactin. Prolactin is a female hormone produced by the pituitary gland and an excess of this hormone causes a reduction in the levels of oestrogen which inhibits ovulation. This particular drug is a member of the dopamine receptor stimulants family and works to reduce how much prolactin the pituitary gland produces.
How should it be taken?
Bromocriptine can be taken orally as a tablet or inserted vaginally and should be taken with food two or three times a day. The initial recommended dosage is only 1/2 to 2 1/2 milligrams a day for a period of 2 – 7 days or until the optimal response is achieved.
How effective is bromocriptine?
Fifty percent of women who take this medication as prescribed will begin to ovulate normally once prolactin levels are within a normal range. Of these 50%, almost all women will be able to conceive naturally unless she is suffering from another cause of infertility.
Are there any side effects?
Yes, there are some side effects associated with bromocriptine. Many of the known side effects are most severe at the onset of treatment and will subside once the body adjusts to the medication. Some of the side effects include nasal congestion, dry mouth, nausea, headaches, low blood pressure, and drowsiness. It has been reported that taking the drug vaginally can greatly reduce and even eliminate many of these side effects.
UROFOLLITROPIN
Brand Names: Bravelle and Metrodin
How does it work?
Women who are suffering from infertility as a result of ovulatory or menstrual cycle disorders, low levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), polycycstic ovary syndrome, or who have not had success taking clomiphene, can elect to take urofollitropin. This drug works with the body to stimulate the development of FSH and encourage ovulation.
How should it be taken?
Urofollitropin is an injectable drug that is injected into the muscle two times a day until ovulation is achieved. The standard dosage is between 75 and 600 IU per day.
How effective is urofollitropin?
This is an extremely effective fertility treatment that has between a 70% to 90% success rate for ovulation. In addition to a very high ovulation success rate, it carries a 25% – 30% chance of conception.
Are there any side effects?
The side effects are rather mild and include fever, chills, rapid weight gain, abdominal pain, bloating, decreased urination, and nausea or vomiting.
This rather short list of fertility drugs is just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more drugs available depending on each individual situation. It is important to discuss all treatment options with a licensed healthcare provider.