Fertility medications can be used to help the 20 percent of women who are unable to get pregnant. These medicines help women form and release eggs, which is a process called "ovulation". However, not all women are able to get pregnant even though these medicines are used. Medications used include clomiphene citrate, bromocryptine, gonadotropins, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Some of these are taken as tablets while others are given as injections.
Clomiphene is used mostly in women with near normal ovaries and normal female hormone levels. This medicine can usually make 80 percent of these women ovulate and half of those will get pregnant when using clomiphene. Twins are slightly more common when pregnancy is assisted with clomiphene. The side affects of clomiphene include hot flushes, nausea, breast tenderness, and rarely, vision changes.
Bromocryptine is used in a specific group of women that have a high prolactin level. Prolactin is a hormone secreted by the brain. Bromocryptine returns the pregnancy rate to normal in these women. The side effects can be headache, upset stomach, light-headedness, and a stuffy nose.
Gonadotropins are used in women with low female hormone levels. Close monitoring is needed with this therapy in an effort to prevent severe side effects and multiple pregnancies. Success is related to the cause of the problem and the age of the woman. Most pregnancies induced by gonadotropins will occur within the first 6 cycles.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone may be used alone or in conjunction with other types of therapies. This medication may cause menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. Recent research suggests that there may be an increased risk of ovarian cancer in a woman who has used one or more of these medications. More studies are underway to determine if a real concern exists. A fertility specialist can recommend a fertility treatment that will be best for you.
Some health insurance companies may not cover any of the costs associated with fertility care.
Article #7128
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