Ovulation Induction Medications
If you do not ovulate on a regular basis, or seemingly at all, your physician may prescribe medication that will encourage your body to ovulate. These medications are known as ovulation induction medications.
Medications that contain clomiphene citrate, like Clomid and Serophene, are designed to provide your body with a boost to the already present hormones LH and FSH. They are usually taken orally in pill form. You will take it typically once a day for several days toward the beginning of your cycle in the follicular phase. It is designed to boost your hormone levels to increase your chances of ovulation occurring at a predictable timing.
Side effects of using the clomiphene citrate types of product are usually very minor. They may include mood swings and bloating. Remember these are simply synthetic forms of naturally occurring hormones in your body. The rates of multiple pregnancies with ovulation-inducing medications tend to be fairly low, around 10 percent.
Clomiphene citrate therapy can be used in combination with other treatments, such as intrauterine inseminations (IUI), for increased chance of conceiving. This is often done if you also have problems with male factor fertility.
This form of medication can also be used to help overcome a luteal phase defect (LPD). By using these medications you can extend the luteal phase of your cycle to help encourage your body to maintain a pregnancy rather than release the menstrual lining early.
Clomiphene Citrate medication will not affect a pregnancy test. You can use it in conjunction with basal body temperature taking. This is particularly helpful when charting a luteal phase issue. Also, it can be used for several cycles. During the course of your treatment, your physician may decide that a higher dosage would be more helpful. If you have questions be sure to ask.
