Infertility is the inability to get pregnant. The cause can be in the male partner, the female partner or combined factors from both. Impaired fertility affects more than six million women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 44. There are several options to address the problems of infertility, and clomiphene citrate is typically one of the first treatments administered when the problem is lack of ovulation. Clomiphene citrate is sold under the brand names of Clomid and Serophene.
Process
Clomid typically is used to help a woman ovulate when she can't do it on her own. The mechanism of how the drug works isn't completely understood, but doctors believe Clomid tricks the brain into thinking the ovaries haven't produced an egg. In response, the pituitary gland releases higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone to trigger ova maturation and release.
Dosage
A woman prescribed Clomid typically starts at 50 mg per day for five days, starting on the third or fifth day of her menstrual cycle, depending on her doctor's preferred protocol. If that proves insufficient to trigger ovulation, the dosage might be increased over two or three menstrual cycles to a maximum of 100 mg for eight days or 250 mg for five days. You shouldn't take Clomid longer than three to six months without a rest period.
Side Effects
Side effects of Clomid include hot flashes, breast pain, ovarian pain, nausea, headaches and insomnia. The side effects tend to increase in severity with higher doses. Clomid can cause the development of ovarian cysts. Clomid can sometimes hyperstimulate the ovaries. Tenderness and pain, sometimes severe, in the ovarian area are symptoms of hyperstimulation. If hyperstimulation occurs, you should stop taking Clomid after consulting with your physician. Clomid increases your likelihood of having twins by about 10 percent.
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