Ovulation Induction And Fertility Drugs

A common option for women experiencing infertility is ovulation induction, which requires the use of fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries causing the production of multiple eggs. Not only does this increase a woman’s chances of conceiving, the use of drugs to stimulate ovulation also gives a couple and their doctor the ability of controlling the process in order to schedule the fertilization process – natural or otherwise – at the most likely time to result in pregnancy.

There are a variety of fertility drugs used at present, all of which carry some risk, including a greater incidence of multiple births and the possibility of developing ovarian cysts. Occasionally, women undergoing treatment with fertility drugs will experience a condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, or OHSS. This can result in side effects ranging from severe pelvic or abdominal pain to nausea, vomiting, weight gain and difficulty breathing.

The most commonly used fertility drugs are Clomiphene Citrate, which comes in tablet form and is usually used for women who have infrequent periods or long menstrual cycles; Gonadotropins, an injectable medication used to induce the release of mature eggs; Glucophage, given to patients as an insulin lowering medication which has been shown to reverse endocrine abnormalities in women with polycystic ovary syndrome; and Parlodel, which is usually used to lower prolactin levels.

Each of these drugs has known side effects ranging from headaches, blurred vision and hot flashes to mood swings, fatigue, and bloating. The use of Glucophage can result in diminished facial and body hair growth, reduction of high blood pressure and weight loss. Parlodel, generally taken as an oral medication, has the fewest side effects and is also the least expensive of the fertility drugs.

The normal course of treatment is to use Clomiphene Citrate in pill form for five days at the beginning of the fertility cycle. This will usually result in ovulation in about 80% of women, and 50% of those will ultimately conceive. For women who need more aggressive treatment, or superovulation, Gonadotropins can be used alone or in combination with Clomiphene to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. Women undergoing superovulation need to be closely monitored by their doctors to prevent hyperstimulation and to reduce the possibility of multiple pregnancy. Generally, the success rate with superovulation is between 10-20%, depending upon the woman’s age.

Fertility drugs open up a whole new world of possibilities for women who are having difficulty conceiving, but as with any medications they should only be used with extreme caution. Whatever your fertility issues may be, see your doctor and explore all your options so that you can choose what’s right for you.