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Clomiphene is the most commonly prescribed fertility drug and
is used to help you conceive if you have polycystic
ovary syndrome (PCOS) or if you ovulate irregularly or not at
all.
Clomiphene, usually taken as a pill for one five-day cycle each
month, causes your pituitary gland to release more follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
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FSH prompts your ovaries to produce one or more mature eggs and
LH tells your ovaries to release your mature egg or eggs into your
fallopian tubes.
Most women who take clomiphene go through three to six cycles
of treatment-your chances of getting pregnant do not improve if
you take the drug for a longer period of time. You will need to
be checked by your doctor on a regular basis to see if ovulation
is occurring. If you do not succeed after three cycles, your doctor
may recommend a higher dose of clomiphene or another treatment such
as a different fertility drug or an assisted reproductive technology
(ART).
Clomiphene may cause some side effects-swelling of the ovaries,
stomach pain, breast tenderness, insomnia, nausea and vomiting,
blurred vision, headaches, fatigue, irritability, depression, and
weight gain--these are usually mild and clear after the medication
is stopped. Side effects are rare and Clomid is generally well-tolerated.
Up to 80 percent of women who take clomiphene will ovulate, usually
within the first three months of treatment. Of those women who ovulate,
about 40 percent get pregnant. There is also an approximately 10
percent chance that you will conceive twins with clomiphene.
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