Introduction: How Does Clomid Work for Fertility?
Clomid is also known as clomiphene citrate.
It’s an oral medication that is often used to treat certain types of female infertility.
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.
Taking Clomid
• 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.
• Who should take Clomid?
• Clomid is often prescribed to women with
- polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a syndrome that can cause irregular or absent ovulation.
- Lack of ovulation
- Undergoing IUI
Not everyone will respond to this medication.
- Primary ovarian insufficiency
- Early menopause
- Women with absent ovulation due to low body weight
- Hypothalamic amenorrhea
Women with, or, and or are most likely to not ovulate when taking Clomid. Women with these conditions may need more intensive infertility treatment.
Dr. Chudi
