What is Clomid and how is it used?
Clomid is a brand of clomiphene citrate, a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of infertility in women who have ovulatory failure. Clomid may be used alone or with other medications.
Clomid is often prescribed to women with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, which is a syndrome that can cause irregular or absent ovulation. However, not everyone will respond to this medication. Women with primary ovarian insufficiency, early menopause, and women with absent ovulation due to low body weight or hypothalamic amenorrhea are most likely to not ovulate when taking Clomid. Women with these conditions may need more intensive infertility treatment.
How Does Clomid Work for Fertility?
Clomid belongs to a class of drugs called Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators. Clomid works by making the body think that your estrogen levels are lower than they are, which causes the pituitary gland to increase secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, and luteinizing hormone, or LH. Higher levels of FSH stimulate the ovary to produce an egg follicle, or multiple follicles, that will develop and be released during ovulation. High levels of LH stimulate ovulation.
Clomid is often prescribed by primary care physicians or OB-GYNs before they refer a couple to see a fertility specialist for more specialized care. Some reproductive specialists prescribe Clomid as well.
How to take Clomid 50 mg
Clomid is a 50-milligram pill that is usually taken for five days in a row at the beginning of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Day three, four, or five is typical for a Clomid start date.
Doctors will usually prescribe one, two, three, or sometimes four pills to be taken at the same time each day, depending on how they think you will respond to the medicine. It’s common to start at the lowest dose and increase each month as needed.
Some doctors will want you to come back for blood work to measure hormone levels or a transvaginal ultrasound to look at your ovarian follicles. This information can help them determine when you should begin having intercourse or have intrauterine insemination. It can also help them determine the appropriate dose for your next cycle.
Most doctors don’t recommend that you use Clomid for more than three to six cycles, due to the decreasing pregnancy rate that occurs with continued use. Your doctor may extend this if it takes a few cycles before they find the dose that works for you.
What are the possible side effects of Clomid?
Common side effects of Clomid include:
· abnormal vaginal bleeding
· breast discomfort
· flushing (feeling of warmth)
· headache
· upset stomach
· vomiting
Serious side effects
· blurred vision
· double vision
· shortness of breath
· stomach or lower stomach pain
· stomach swelling
· visual spots or flashes
· weight gain
Long-term use of Clomid may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
These are not all the possible side effects of Clomid. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Does Clomid interact with my other drugs?
A total of 2 drugs are known to interact with Clomid, they include;
- bexarotene
- ospemifene
However, there are 5 disease interactions with clomiphene which include:
- abnormal uterine bleeding
- hepatic dysfunction
- hyperlipidemia
- pituitary activity
- uncontrolled adrenal dysfunction
Are there any alternatives to Clomid?
Yes, there are other oral medications that can stimulate the ovaries by the gonadotropin-releasing effect. Some of them are Letrozole and Tamoxifen. They can be utilized instead of Clomid. In fact, Letrozole has replaced Clomid as the first-line agent for ovulation induction in PCOS patients due to better success rates. A more potent alternative is injectable fertility drugs, typically used in IVF.
Can Clomid be used for male infertility?
Clomid can be used for male infertility. The dose is typically 25-50 mg per day and requires close monitoring of FSH, LH, Testosterone. It can be combined with HCG or used alone. It is vital to avoid hyperstimulation of the testicles, and you need an experienced fertility urologist or fertility specialist for a consultation.
How much does Clomid cost?
The average price of Clomid 50mg is around $0.8 per tablet or $24 for a pack of 30 tablets depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash-paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans.
How long does it usually take to get pregnant on Clomid?
Ovulation typically occurs 5 – 10 days after taking the last Clomid pill. So if you took Clomid on days 3 to 7 of your cycle, you are most likely to ovulate between days 10 and 16. Ovulation can, however, occur even later than 10 days after your last Clomid pill, so it’s something to keep in mind.
How many rounds of Clomid does it take to get pregnant?
If you don’t become pregnant after three to six cycles of Clomid (or however many your doctor recommends), it may be time to see a fertility specialist and move on to more aggressive treatment. It doesn’t mean that you will never become pregnant.
How successful is Clomid for pregnancy?
In terms of a successful pregnancy, Clomid has a success rate of approximately 36 percent. Other numbers can vary on this, of course. The general pregnancy rate from Clomid use according to multiple studies is between 7 percent and 30 percent.
Are Clomid babies healthy?
Clomid has the highest risk of birth defects, out of all the fertility treatment methods. Experts explain that Clomid stops the growth of the baby’s blood vessels, which can lead to devastating side effects for the developing fetus.
Can you get pregnant the first time on Clomid?
Depending on which research studies you reference, the odds of conceiving during any one Clomid treatment cycle are 5.6% to 20%.
