Having trouble getting pregnant and wonder if fertility drugs might help? Sometimes fertility drugs can give you that added boost to get pregnant and have a baby.
Why use fertility pills?
The reason for using fertility pills goes back to the basic premise of what it takes to get pregnant:
- A sperm
- An egg
- The proper anatomy for the two to meet and be nurtured
Still, you must ovulate to get the egg. And ovulation disorders are the most common cause of female infertility.
An extra boost with fertility drugs
Some fertility drugs take charge of ovulation, and even overpower the process. Other fertility pills are targeted at improving the ovarian environment to let ovulation occur naturally.
Fertility drugs are extremely effective. Millions of couples who rely on fertility pills safely get pregnant and stay pregnant—without more high-tech procedures.
Also, for many women the extra boost with fertility pills (called controlled ovarian hyperstimulation or COH) is all that’s needed to get pregnant.
Too much or too little?
Still, it’s sometimes hard to get the right dosage of fertility drugs. Too little of the fertility pills, and there is inadequate response. Too much of the fertility drugs can lead to potentially serious ovarian hyperstimulation (OHSS).
With ovarian hyperstimulation the ovaries are overly stimulated and become extremely large and filled with too much fluid. The fluid is then released with ovulation and can lead to serious complications.
Which fertility pill is best for you?
Fertility drugs used for ovulation induction may work differently. However, fertility drugs have the same objective of facilitating ovulation. This is done by creating a “super” physiologic situation where an “extra push” is given for follicular development.
All fertility drugs increase the stimulation of the ovary by increasing the concentration of gonadotropins available to stimulate the ovary.
Oral clomiphene citrate (CC) causes a release of the body’s own gonadotropin stores and indirectly stimulates the ovaries. Injectable gonadotropins stimulate the ovaries directly.
The main types of fertility drugs include:
Clomiphene citrate (Serophene®, Clomid®) is a relatively inexpensive and effective synthetic anti-estrogen. These fertility pills trigger the release of hormones that stimulate the ovaries.
Human Menopausal Gonadotropin or hMG (Menopur®, Repronex®), an injectable fertility drug, that contains luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Both LH and FSH stimulate the ovaries to produce more follicles, which increases the number of eggs.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone or FSH (Follistim®, Bravelle®, Gonal-F®), an injectable drug, that stimulates the ovaries to produce more follicles and increases the number of eggs.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or hCG (Profasi®, Pregnyl®), an injectable drug, is a hormone that matures the developing follicles and triggers release of an egg from its follicle. HCG mimics the LH surge. Your doctor may prescribe this fertility drug if CC does not work for you or if you are preparing for an ART treatment, such as IVF or GIFT.
The fertility drug progesterone is a hormone that prepares the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) for the arrival and implantation of an embryo. Progesterone is delivered by intramuscular (IM) injection or by vaginal suppository.
Leuprolide acetate (Lupron®) suppresses your body's own hormone production, thus preventing follicle development and egg release. Doctors use Lupron in combination with other medications to improve control of your cycle.
Antagonist (Cetrotide®, Ganirelix®) are fertility drugs used for pituitary suppression if you’re undergoing an IVF cycle.
Depending on your situation, other fertility pills may be used including aspirin, heparin, bromocriptine and cabergoline, and more. In addition, the medication metformin may be prescribed as treatment for women with PCOS.
The downside of fertility medication
One of the drawbacks of all fertility drugs is that they tend to work in only one cycle (month). However, the developing follicle may take as long as three months (cycles) to go through the entire process of growth and maturation.
Another drawback to fertility drugs is the chance of multiple births. Being pregnant with twins, triplets or more can put the babies at risk for premature birth, as well as compromise your own health.
Fertility drugs that help you get pregnant
Today, most infertility treatments begin with at least several cycles of fertility pills before moving on to more high-tech therapies. If one fertility drug isn’t working, make sure your doctor looks to another option until you find that one that enables you to successfully get pregnant.
Sources: American Society for Reproductive Medicine: Medications for Inducing Ovulation Bruce, D, Thatcher, S. Making a Baby. American Society for Reproductive Medicine: Patient Fact Sheet: Fertility Drugs and the Risk of Multiple Births.
