What are fertility medications and how do they work?
The most common fertility medications are classified as ovulation induction drugs and have been approved for patients with ovulation disorders. However, they are also utilized for ‘super’ ovulation. These medications by-pass the usual female hormonal pathways and stimulate the ovary to produce more than the usual one follicle per month, increasing the number of eggs exposed to sperm, thereby increasing the chance for pregnancy. One type, clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene), is administered in a tablet form and usually results in one or two follicles each cycle. The other class are called gonadotropins (Repronex, Follistim, Gonal-F ) and are currently administered by injection. They can stimulate the ovary to produce many dominant follicles each cycle. These medications can be combined with intercourse, intrauterine insemination, or In-vitro fertilization (IVF) to enhance one’s chance for conception. 4. What are the risks of fertility medications? Fertility medications carry risks th
