Many times women trying to conceive will be prescribed Clomid, which is a fertility drug. The reason many women are prescribed Clomid is because it induces ovulation. As a result, it is the mainstay of infertility treatments. If you are having trouble getting pregnant and make an appointment with your doctor you will likely hear something about Clomid. However, how will you know if it is the right choice for you?

Clomid is not a miracle drug and it is not the right drug for all women, either. It’s important for doctors to do a complete review of the couple’s history and health issues before choosing to prescribe any drug. If you visit a doctor who is willing to prescribe Clomid without really getting to the bottom of what’s behind your infertility then you and your eventual happiness may be at risk.

The way Clomid works is that it blocks the brains’ estrogen receptors to cause ovulation. The drug basically tricks your brain into thinking you aren’t getting enough estrogen and will begin producing more, which will cause an increase in FSH and LH. When these hormones are released then estrogen rises higher and hopefully ovulation

Most women who are prescribed Clomid are given a small dose to start out. This is not a drug that is taken every single day, either. Instead, it should be taken on the third through seventh days of your cycle or in some cases on days five through nine of your cycle. Doctors may need to induce a cycle for women who do not have regular cycles. If the Clomid works then ovulation will generally occur a week after the last pill was taken.

Women taking Clomid should expect some side effects. These include headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and more. Another side effect is a slightly increased risk of having twins. Clomid is generally only prescribed for a maximum of six cycles and then if conception does not occur another treatment method will be offered.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 13th, 2009 and is filed under News.