AN OVERVIEW OF FERTILITY DRUGS USED TO TREAT INFERTILITY

Treating infertility in women can be a complex process.  A  fertility specialist at an initial consultation with a new patient will gather a patient’s medical history, review prior fertility treatment and evaluation from the OBGYN or other fertility specialists  and often perform a GYN ultrasound. Treatment options often include, surgery or medication therapy.

• Clomiphene (Clomid, Serophene)
• Letrozole (Femara)
• Human Menopausal gonadotropins ( Follistim, Menopur, Gonal F, Bravelle)
• Metformin
• Parlodel

Clomid, clomiphene citrate, is a fertility medication that induces egg growth and ovulation due to its stimulating properties on the pituitary gland.  The medication is administered by mouth and is often given to women who have difficulty with ovulation, endometriosis, mild male factor infertility, or unexplained infertility.  Clomid is commonly used in women that  have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) who do not ovulate on a regular basis.

Human menopausal gonadotropin, also known as hMG, is a drug used for women who have problems with ovulation, mild male factor infertility, endometriosis, unexplained infertility and some types of hormonal disorders like hypogonatropic hypogonadism that require  “stronger”stimulation of the ovaries.  The HMG medication only comes in the form of injection.

• Other “fertility” drugs

Women with insulin resistance with polycystic ovary syndrome may be given a drug known as metformin or Glucophage.  The drug works to decrease an elevation of male hormones in the female body, regulate insulin and assists with  ovulation.

Women with high levels of prolactin, the hormone leading to lactation, may be given medication called parlodel to decrease the elevated prolactin hormone levels.  High levels of prolactin can cause problem with ovulation.

The use of fertility drugs may increase a patient’s chance of having twins or multiples.  Careful monitoring by a Denver fertility clinic is required.  The rate of success; however, is high for women who have ovulation problems and are treated with fertility drugs.