What are the pros and cons of fertility medications?
There are two general classes of fertility medications. Clomid® (clomiphene citrate) is an oral medication that helps achieve ovulation in women who don’t reliably develop a follicle and egg each month. Clomid can also be used selectively in some women who do ovulate on their own, but the indications for this usage should be carefully evaluated on an individualized basis. Also, Clomid use should usually be monitored by ultrasound and/or hormone levels. Gonadotropins are more potent injectable medications that contain the pituitary hormone FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) as the active ingredient. These medications are commonly known under the following brand names: Pergonal®, Metrodin®, Fertinex®, Humegon®, Repronex®, Follistim®, and Gonal-F®. Follistim and Gonal-F are genetically engineered forms of FSH. There is little evidence that one brand has advantages over the other, but many IVF centers have reported good success with the recombinant forms of FSH. Gonadotropins are used for
