Clomid: The Basics
With infertility becoming more and more of a concern for couples hoping to conceive a child, more hopeful parents are turning to the use of fertility medications to aid in their journey to parenthood. One of the more popular fertility medications is a prescription medication known as Clomid.
What is Clomid?
Clomid is the brand name version of the popular orally administered fertility medication, clomiphere citrate. Clomid is the most well-known fertility medication on the market, likely because of how often it is used among infertile couples. In fact, Clomid is usually the first medication a physician prescribes when addressing issues of infertility.
What conditions does Clomid treat?
Clomid is a fertility medication prescribed to women who are suffering from infertility. There are many reproductive issues that Clomid is capable of addressing, thereby increasing the likelihood of the woman becoming pregnant. One of the most common reasons for Clomid to be prescribed is for issues with ovulation. Women who ovulate irregularly, or who do no ovulate at all, may benefit from the use of Clomid when they try to become pregnant. Clomid may also be used to treat infertility in women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or unexplained infertility.
How does Clomid work?
Clomid acts as an ovulatory stimulant, increasing the amount of hormones, such as estrogen, in the body that are needed to produce and release healthy eggs. Clomid may, in some women, increase the number of eggs present, thus increasing the likelihood a woman has to conceive that month.
How successful is Clomid?
Clomid usually works to promote ovulation in 80% of women who are prescribed it. Approximately 40-50% of women prescribed Clomid will become pregnant within six months of using Clomid. Clomid, however, is not recommended for use longer than six months.
How is Clomid taken?
Clomid, unlike the majority of fertility medications, is taken orally and does not need to be injected into the skin. Clomid is typically taken for five days at a point early on in a woman's cycle. What days a woman is instructed to take Clomid on will depend on her doctor, as well as her specific health and fertility issues. A woman on Clomid can usually expect to ovulate within a week or two of finishing the Clomid. It is important for women to follow their physician's exact instructions regarding when to take Clomid.
What are the side effects of Clomid?
Clomid can cause a variety of side effects, upset stomach, abdominal bloating, hot flashes, breast tenderness, headache, dizinnes, vision disturbances, weight gain, mood swings, unusual vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, discomfort during sexual intercourse, ovarian cysts and other minor discomforts.
What are the risks of using Clomid?
There are two primary risks to be concerned about when taking Clomid; the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and the risk of multiple birth. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a very serious health concern that results from over-stimulation of the ovaries. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can be life threatening and women undergoing fertility treatments should be monitored closely for signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
The second concern is the risk of multiple births. Because Clomid has the potential to increase the number of eggs a woman produces, it also has the potential to increase the number of babies the woman conceives. The exact number of multiple births observed among women who were prescribed Clomid was 7.98%, however, the general risk of multiple birth among women prescribed Clomid is believed to be 5-10%.
Real women who have taken Clomid
"Clomid worked for my husband and I. We had been trying for a baby almost a year when our doctor prescribed Clomid. We got pregnant on our first cycle of it and now have a healthy two-year-old boy to show for it!" -Melissa H.
"Clomid seemed like good way to treat our unexplained infertility, but the side effects were awful. I was nauseous, tired and crabby all the time. To top things off, I ended up with cysts on my ovaries and we had to sit out a couple cycles to wait for the cysts to go away. It might work for some, but I wouldn't take it again." -Kristin L.
"Our twins resulted from our third round of Clomid. The first two rounds, nothing happened, but the third time around was our lucky charm. The side effects weren't pleasant, but it's definitely worth a try before getting into the more aggressive medications." -Lisa S.
More From Associated Content
Soy Isoflavones: A Natural Alternative to Clomid
Five Tips for Charting Your Fertility
The Risk of Using Unprescribed Fertility Medications
What is Clomid?
Clomid is the brand name version of the popular orally administered fertility medication, clomiphere citrate. Clomid is the most well-known fertility medication on the market, likely because of how often it is used among infertile couples. In fact, Clomid is usually the first medication a physician prescribes when addressing issues of infertility.
What conditions does Clomid treat?
Clomid is a fertility medication prescribed to women who are suffering from infertility. There are many reproductive issues that Clomid is capable of addressing, thereby increasing the likelihood of the woman becoming pregnant. One of the most common reasons for Clomid to be prescribed is for issues with ovulation. Women who ovulate irregularly, or who do no ovulate at all, may benefit from the use of Clomid when they try to become pregnant. Clomid may also be used to treat infertility in women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or unexplained infertility.
How does Clomid work?
Clomid acts as an ovulatory stimulant, increasing the amount of hormones, such as estrogen, in the body that are needed to produce and release healthy eggs. Clomid may, in some women, increase the number of eggs present, thus increasing the likelihood a woman has to conceive that month.
How successful is Clomid?
Clomid usually works to promote ovulation in 80% of women who are prescribed it. Approximately 40-50% of women prescribed Clomid will become pregnant within six months of using Clomid. Clomid, however, is not recommended for use longer than six months.
How is Clomid taken?
Clomid, unlike the majority of fertility medications, is taken orally and does not need to be injected into the skin. Clomid is typically taken for five days at a point early on in a woman's cycle. What days a woman is instructed to take Clomid on will depend on her doctor, as well as her specific health and fertility issues. A woman on Clomid can usually expect to ovulate within a week or two of finishing the Clomid. It is important for women to follow their physician's exact instructions regarding when to take Clomid.
What are the side effects of Clomid?
Clomid can cause a variety of side effects, upset stomach, abdominal bloating, hot flashes, breast tenderness, headache, dizinnes, vision disturbances, weight gain, mood swings, unusual vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, discomfort during sexual intercourse, ovarian cysts and other minor discomforts.
What are the risks of using Clomid?
There are two primary risks to be concerned about when taking Clomid; the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and the risk of multiple birth. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a very serious health concern that results from over-stimulation of the ovaries. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can be life threatening and women undergoing fertility treatments should be monitored closely for signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
The second concern is the risk of multiple births. Because Clomid has the potential to increase the number of eggs a woman produces, it also has the potential to increase the number of babies the woman conceives. The exact number of multiple births observed among women who were prescribed Clomid was 7.98%, however, the general risk of multiple birth among women prescribed Clomid is believed to be 5-10%.
Real women who have taken Clomid
"Clomid worked for my husband and I. We had been trying for a baby almost a year when our doctor prescribed Clomid. We got pregnant on our first cycle of it and now have a healthy two-year-old boy to show for it!" -Melissa H.
"Clomid seemed like good way to treat our unexplained infertility, but the side effects were awful. I was nauseous, tired and crabby all the time. To top things off, I ended up with cysts on my ovaries and we had to sit out a couple cycles to wait for the cysts to go away. It might work for some, but I wouldn't take it again." -Kristin L.
"Our twins resulted from our third round of Clomid. The first two rounds, nothing happened, but the third time around was our lucky charm. The side effects weren't pleasant, but it's definitely worth a try before getting into the more aggressive medications." -Lisa S.
More From Associated Content
Soy Isoflavones: A Natural Alternative to Clomid
Five Tips for Charting Your Fertility
The Risk of Using Unprescribed Fertility Medications
Published by Samantha Van Vleet - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
Samantha Van Vleet is a birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator and third year pre-medical student. She, her husband and her three children reside in southcentral Alaska. She is actively involved... View profile
Soy Isoflavones - Clomid Substitute?Many women have become pregnant after taking soy isoflavones instead of clomid. Here is my personal experience with it.- Benefits and Risks of Infertility Treatments for Childless CouplesThere are many infertility problems but very few infertility treatments are available for childless couples. Each type of treatment comes with some benefits and risks. Learn about the benefits and risks of the inferti...
- How to Increase Your Chance to ConceiveThere are many things a couple can do to increase chances for successful conception. Diet, exercise, and natural products are all things that a couple may try as well as drugs such as Clomid when necessary.
Cheapest Infertility Drug on the Market TodayIf your insurance does not cover infertility drugs, this is the cheapest one.- Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: Post-Partum ComplicationIf you are a young women expecting a baby, and you are planning cesarean section, it is important to speak with your gynecologist about the risk for development ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
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