Introduction
Clomid or clomiphene is used to treat infertility in women. It works by stimulating an increase in hormones that support the growth and release of a mature egg (ovulation). This medication is not recommended for women whose ovaries no longer produce eggs properly (primary pituitary or ovarian insufficiency).
Clomiphene should be taken orally exactly as directed by your doctor for it to be most effective. It is important to follow the dosing schedule carefully. Your dosage depends on your health condition and response to therapy. Do not take it more often or longer than prescribed by your doctor.
Prolonged treatment with this drug is not recommended and should not be more than 6 cycles. You may be asked to record your body temperature, perform ovulation tests, and time intercourse correctly for best results. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Why do you need Clomid?
Clomid or clomiphene citrate is a medication commonly used to treat infertility. It is often used to try to induce ovulation in women who do not develop and release an egg (ovulate) on their own.
Women who do not ovulate without medication are considered anovulatory and have a condition called anovulation. Many of these women have polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS.
Clomid is also often used to stimulate the development of additional follicles in the ovaries of women who are already ovulating without medication. In these cases, it is hoped that increasing the number of eggs released will increase the chances of getting pregnant.
Does Clomid work?
Overall, about three-quarters of women who do not ovulate on their own will ovulate when taking clomid at a certain dosage level. Unfortunately, only about half of women who ovulate with clomid will become pregnant with it.
Clomid works as an “anti-estrogen” which tricks the brain into thinking that estrogen levels in the body are very low. It does this by binding to estrogen receptors in the brain and blocking estrogen’s ability to bind to these receptors.
The brain then thinks that estrogen levels are very low, so it releases the hormone GnRH, which goes to the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
The task of FSH is to stimulate the development of a mature follicle (structure containing an egg) in the ovary. Women who ovulate irregularly, such as those with PCOS, often ovulate after taking clomid.
However, this is quite variable, and many women with anovulation do not respond to clomid and do not ovulate at all.
When it comes to ovulation stimulation, clomid is very effective, resulting in the release of mature eggs in about 80% of women who use it. However, only 10% to 13% of them will get pregnant in a cycle. Thus, clomid is not a panacea for infertility.
How long does it take to ovulate with Clomid?
On average, ovulation occurs about 7 to 10 days after completing a course of Clomid pills. This varies greatly depending on whether a woman regularly ovulates on her own or not.
Some women ovulate sooner than seven days after taking their last Clomid pill, and some women with very irregular cycles ovulate much later, two or three weeks after taking their last Clomiphene pill.
Cost of clomid treatment and clomid treatment cycles.
Clomid is not expensive and will cost between $10 and $100 per cycle depending on the dose and whether brand name or generic clomiphene citrate is used.
What about the Clomid side effects?
Side effects are usually very mild. One of the reasons doctors and their patients prefer clomid is that it has reasonable success rates and minimal side effects (low risk). Those with side effects report abdominal bloating, nausea, or headaches.
Blurred vision and hot flashes have also been reported. Very few women experience serious side effects from clomid.
How to take Clomid?
A woman can start taking clomid tablets between the third and fifth day of her cycle. Each pill contains 50 mg of clomiphene citrate. Patients usually take 1-3 pills a day for five days.
The drug remains effective in the body even after taking all the pills because the half-life is very long. In some cases, when used as an adjunct to mini-ECO, it can be taken over a long period of time.
Usually, your doctor will call you again in about a week to evaluate your ovarian follicles with an ultrasound. You may be asked to have a natural ovulation test, or you may use an ovulation trigger shot instead.
You will be notified when it is time to have timed sex or undergo intrauterine insemination. Your doctor can monitor your blood progesterone levels. A pregnancy test is done about 14 days after ovulation.
How can I improve the success rate of clomid?
Any fertility medication will only be successful if it can adequately address the underlying problem. When used correctly, especially in patients with anovulation, clomid therapy can be extremely beneficial with a high pregnancy rate.
If used randomly without a clear rationale, it can cause ovarian cysts and further complicate the treatment of female infertility. Timing ovulation with Ovulation Prediction Kits (OPK) or an artificial ovulation trigger combined with synchronized intercourse or VMI can further improve treatment success rates.
It is best to see an experienced reproductive endocrinologist who can advise you and properly evaluate you and ensure the success of clomid therapy.
