Clomid and Gonadotropins

If a woman is trying to get pregnant, probably fertility treatments will be recommended, and in all likelihood her treatment will begin with Clomid, the most popular and successful of fertility drugs available. If this drug fails there are a number of other fertility drugs which may be considered, including Gonadotropins. These are fertility treatments prescribed by a fertility specialist. It is vital for the woman seeking the fertility treatment to tell her doctor her medical history, including incidents of heart or kidney disease, cancer, asthma, seizure disorder, etc.

Let’s take a closer look at a number of these treatments:

Clomid is sold under its generic name, Clomiphene, and under brand names such as Serophene, This fertility drug is used to treat female infertility due to anovulation. It may be used for women, who have unpredictable menstrual cycles, and women who have no periods, and who are not ovulating.

Clomid blocks the oestrogen receptors in your brain, and tricks your brain into thinking that your oestrogen levels are lower than they are. The brain replies by sending a signal out to the body that it needs to produce more GnRH. The increased level of GnRH stimulates the production of FSH, which causes the ovaries to grow larger and mature eggs. So, essentially Clomid triggers the production of certain hormones which stimulate the ovaries into producing and releasing mature eggs. These eggs will hopefully be fertilized during sexual intercourse. Clomid helps predict when the egg will be released from ovaries, thereby increasing a woman’s chance of timing sexual intercourse when she is fertile.

This treatment involves taking one pill every day for 5 consecutive days each month. Often, the female will be asked to record her body temperature and to time sexual intercourse for best results.

This drug may not be used during pregnancy. A woman who is breastfeeding needs to consult her doctor, as it is not known if the drug passes into breast milk. Side effects may include nausea, dizziness or lightheadedness, headache, stomach upset or bloating. Use of this medication may result in multiple births (e.g., twins, triplets).
When this drug fails there are a number of other fertility drugs which may be considered, for example Gonadotropins.

Gonadotropins can help female infertility because they stimulate or prompt the ovaries to produce several eggs in the ovaries. This type of treatment may come in the form of Human Menopausal Gonadotropins (hMG). hMG are protein hormones secreted by gonadotrope cells of the pituitary gland. hMG consists of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

This treatment is injected for 7 to 12 days. Later, injections of human chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) will help the ovaries release the eggs into the fallopian tubes. This medication is given by injection into a muscle by a health care professional. Side effects may include: headache, mood changes/restlessness/ irritability, stomach pain, or fatigue. Again it is not known if this medication passes into breast milk. Use of this medication may result in multiple births (eg., twins, triplets).

Article Source: http://www.parentingarticlelibrary.com

You can find helpful information about clomid and everything you need to know about gonadotropins at Aha! Baby.

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