Fertility Drugs and a Women

Fertility Drugs and a Women's Health

Women trying to have a baby, often times turn to a fertility specialist in order to be able to conceive.

Fertility drugs are often the answer when ovulation induction is desired. A woman should learn all she can about these fertility drugs before taking them so that she understands both the benefits and the risks.

Clomiphene Citrate, Seraphene and Clomid are commonly used fertility drugs. Clomiphen citrate blocks estrogen receptors in order to induce ovulation in the woman taking it.

The body then believes that the estrogen levels are low, which then stimulates the body to produce more follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the letinizing hormone (LH).

The woman is prescribed clomiphene citrate in dosages ranging from 25 milligrams (1/2 of a 50 milligram tablet) to 150 milligrams, which is 3 tablets, to be taken once a day for five days early on in the woman's menstrual cycle.

The usual days to take this medication are days 2 through 6 of the menstrual cycle. The doctor will determine the best days to take the medication as well as what is the best dosage.

The woman will need to be closely monitored while taking fertility drugs. The monitoring may include ultrasounds, urinary testing for LH level or blood tests for estrogen levels.

Side effects from clomiphen citrate include: breast tenderness, headache, hot flashes, multiple pregnancy, ovarian enlargement, and vomiting and also visual disturbances.

Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG) is a drug used to stimulate the hormone (FSH), sometimes with and sometimes without leutinizing hormone (LH), and is used to stimulate ova production in those women who do not usually ovulate spontaneously on their own, or who ovulate irregularly, or when doing Invitro fertilization (IVF) when ovulation needs to be controlled.

The ovaries need to be monitored while on these drugs and is usually done by ultrasound, and blood estrogen tests. The hMG is injected, usually by the woman's partner, who is taught how to give the intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SQ) injections.

The shots are given in the evening. There are some side effects that are known to happen with these shots that include: abdominal pain, headache, hyperstimulation syndrome, multiple pregnancy, and ovarian enlargement.

There is also the occurrence of bruising and discomfort where the shot was given.

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The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Follistim and Gonal-F are genetically manufactured forms of follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), which are normally found in a woman's body, and is used to stimulate the development of multiple ova in the woman during a cycle that is monitored.

Ultrasounds and blood tests are also used to monitor the ovarian response to the drug. This is also an injectable drug.

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Side effects from this drug have been known to be abdominal pain, headaches, hyperstimulation syndrome, multiple pregnancy, and also ovarian enlargement.

Other fertility drugs include Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), Profasi and Pregnyl. This is a natural hormone that helps with the final stages of development of the ova and helps the body to release the ova.

It also stimulates the corpus luteum to put out the progesterone that prepares the uterus for implantation of the fertilized ova. hCG is another injectable drug.

Side effect from these shots can be a little different and my include depression, edema, fatigue, headaches, ovarian hyperstimulation, and also restlessness.

Lupron and a synthetic gonadotropin (FSH/LH) inhibitor may also be used to suppress the brain's secretion of (LH) and the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These drugs are used in cycles where the woman will be given ovulation induction drugs.

Not only do these drugs suppress the secretion of leutinizing hormones and the follicle stimulating hormone but these are used to prevent a dominant follicle for the following menstrual cycle in the hopes of multiple ova instead.

Ultrasounds are used to detect the effectiveness of the drug treatment as well as blood estrogen levels. Lupron is also an injectable drug that is given subcutaneously.

Side effects from Lupron include hot flushes, skin rash and vaginal dryness. Bone loss may occur when individuals use Lupron longer than 6 weeks.

Side effects should be discussed with your doctor prior to starting any fertility drugs.

The risk of a multiple pregnancy should be a part of the discussion. The woman and her partner should be able to make an informed decision regarding the use of fertility drugs.