Does clomiphene decrease cervical mucous and utering lining?
Estrogen is the hormone that causes the cervical mucous to increase and facilitate the passage of sperm through the cervix. It also causes the uterine lining (endometrium) to thicken in preparation for the implantation of a fertilized egg. For some women, clomiphene can have an anti-estrogenic effect on the cervical mucous and endometrium. The use of intrauterine insemination provides a way to by-pass the cervical issue by placing the sperm directly into the uterine cavity with a small catheter. The addition of estrogen either orally or with an estrogen patch has been shown to increase the endometrium, but whether this results in improved pregnancy rates is unknown. If the endometrium is less than 8 mm at the time of ovulation, then treatments other than clomiphene should be considered. What alternatives to clomiphene are available? Letrozole (Femara) works in much the same way as clomiphene, but may have less of an adverse effect on the cervical mucous and endometrium. If these medica
