Infertility Drugs

To treat infertility there are a variety of infertility drugs available.  Most commonly used is Clomid or clomiphene citrate.  Clomid and letrozole are popular infertility drugs.  They are both used to treat infertile women who are having problems with ovulation.  These drugs work by targeting the pituitary gland located at the bottom most part of the brain.  When the pituitary gland is stimulated it helps to increase the development of eggs inside of your ovaries.

However, neither of these medications will have any effect on fertility if the woman is presently on a normal ovulation schedule.  Because of that these are only subscribed in situations where the woman has been experiencing issues with a regular ovulation schedule.  These two medications will normally greatly benefit those with abnormal menstrual cycles. Because of its frequent use, and common link as an infertility drug, Clomiphene is known by many as the one and only “fertility pill.”  However, letrozole is nearly identical to Clomid in its operation.

Letrozole is filtered out of the body much quicker than Clomid is.  It is only effective for the specific cycle taken with, and has less risk of potential complications involving the uterine lining and/or cervical mucous.  Clomid may have side effects present for as much as six to eight weeks following dosage.  Each drug is normally prescribed for five days of each cycle.  On average the prescription begins on day three and is taken through day seven.  Clomid is usually prescribed in 50mg dosages, taken once per day.  The dosages will be ramped up in the event one is not enough to induce ovulation.  However, it is rare that more than two tablets per day are called for.  Letrozole’s standard dose is a 2.5mg tablet once per day. There are various injectable hormones that replicate the hormones found in the natural pituitary gland perfectly.

These hormones are often used to assist in ovulation rapidly.  A few of the hormones available are Follistim, Follistim AQ Pen, Repronex (HMG),  and Gonal-F RFF Pen (FSH).  Often these hormones are constructed by scientific synthesis or by natural extraction from the urine of women who have already gone through menopause.  The most common usage for these hormones is egg development in the ovaries.  There isn’t any link between teratogenicity, or an unnatural development of the baby and these hormones.  These are the perfect option for a patient with a underproductive pituitary gland.

Some women are lacking in the crucial hormone progesterone, which is absolutely necessary to have a successful pregnancy.  Improper, or incorrect progesterone levels can make it impossible to carry the baby to term, or even conceive in many cases.  Unexplained infertility can often be remedied with progesterone injections.  Multiple miscarriages may also be a good reason to consult with a reproductive endocrinologist.  They will use the results from your progesterone readings to determine if that could play a part in infertility, and if drugs are required.