Clomiphene: the fertility hormone

Il clomiphene, or Clomid, is a synthesized estrogen that is used to induce ovulation in women; this drug stimulates the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which causes the ovary to produce one or more egg follicles.

Clomiphene also helps stimulate the production of estrogen, which in turn triggers a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH); high levels of this hormone stimulate ovulation and the release of the egg. Let's find out everything there is to know about clomiphene!

Taking clomiphene

Il Clomid is a 50 milligram (ml) pill, which is usually taken for five consecutive days after the first day of the menstrual cycle; days 3,4 or 5 are the typical days to start Clomid administration.

Doctors usually prescribe this drug for women who are trying to get pregnant, before they turn to fertility centres; usually 3 or 4 tablets are prescribed to be taken every day at the same time and the dosage can increase in the following months.

Some doctors will ask patients to return for blood tests to measure hormone levels or a transvaginal ultrasound to look at the ovarian follicles.

This information can help establish when to start having sexual intercourse or undergoing intrauterine insemination; they can also help determine the appropriate dose for the next cycle.

Who can take clomiphene?

Clomiphene comes prescribed to women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a syndrome that can cause irregular or no ovulation.

Not all women, however, respond to this drug; women with primary ovarian insufficiency or early menopause and women with absent ovulation due to low body weight or hypothalamic amenorrhea are more likely to not ovulate when taking Clomid.

Women with these conditions may need more intensive infertility treatment.

Benefits 

For people who are treated with this drug, the benefits are many:

• It is an affordable option compared to many fertility treatments
• It is an oral drug, which makes it less invasive than other treatments
• It can be prescribed by your general practitioner or gynecologist, so you don't need to go to a fertility specialist
• Side effects are rare and it is generally well tolerated.

Risks and side effects

Taking clomiphene can lead to a few side effects, including:

• Hot flashes
• Headache
• Swelling
• Nausea
• Mood changes
• Blurred vision and double vision
• Thinning of the cervix
• Reduction in quantity and quality of cervical mucus
• Increased risk of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer (very rare complications)
• Increased risk of fetal abnormalities during pregnancy (very rare complication).

Taking Clomid involves a slightly higher risk of having multiple pregnancies; monitoring can be requested greater if you do not want or cannot carry on a twin pregnancy.

Recall that the Clomiphene is a drug that should be taken only and exclusively on prescriptiontherefore, if you have infertility problems or would like more information, contact your general practitioner or gynecologist.

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