Many doctors prescribe fertility drugs for women who have difficulty getting pregnant. Depending on your specific problem, fertility drugs may help overcome infertility factors and give you just the right boost to help you get pregnant.
How do fertility drugs for women work?
Fertility drugs for women work by stimulating your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. There are many different types of fertility drugs for women. You may require a few attempts with various fertility drugs before you get pregnant and have a baby.
When are fertility drugs for women prescribed?
Your doctor may recommend fertility drugs if you have ovulation problems. Some common conditions that cause ovulation problems include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders, eating disorders, weight problems (overweight or underweight), and compulsive or extreme exercise.
In addition, fertility drugs are given to women who have excess prolactin or if there is a problem with their LH and FSH levels.
Sometimes a doctor prescribes fertility drugs for women who need to boost the release of more than one egg per cycle. This controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (super ovulation) is often used in conjunction with artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
With the help of the latest fertility medications, you may produce one or more eggs with the hope of at least one of the eggs getting fertilized.
There are basically two categories of fertility drugs available:
- Fertility drugs that are used for ovarian stimulation
- Drugs used to prevent premature ovulation (for use during ART)
Ovarian stimulation fertility drugs
Clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene) is the most commonly-prescribed fertility drug for women. Doctors prescribe this for women who ovulate irregularly or not at all.
Clomiphene causes the pituitary gland to secrete more FSH, which starts the development of ovarian follicles containing eggs. If this drug works, the eggs are released from the ovary and ovulation has occurred. Clomiphene typically induces ovulation in about 80 percent of women and a little less than 50 percent become pregnant within six cycles.
If clomiphene does not work, your doctor may prescribe an injectable fertility drug called human menopausal gonadotropins or hMG (Menopur, Repronex). Also, if you have issues with your FSH and LH levels or if you are undergoing IVF or IUI, hMG may be prescribed.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone or FSH (Follistim, Bravelle, Gonal-F) is another commonly-prescribed fertility drug for women. Given by injection, FSH works by stimulating the ovaries to produce more follicles and thereby, more eggs.
Human Chorionic Gonadatropin or hCG (Profasi, Pregnyl) helps the maturation of the follicles and triggers the release of the eggs. Doctors prescribe this drug to trigger ovulation. Ovulation usually occurs about 36 to 48 hours after hCG is administered.
Other fertility drugs for women
Your doctor may prescribe other drugs, such as Bromocriptine (Parlodel) and Cabergoline (Dostinex). These are used if your ovulation problems are the result of high prolactin levels. They reduce the amount of prolactin produced by the pituitary, thereby inducing ovulation.
Gonadatropin Releasing Hormone or GnRH (Factrel, Lutrepulse) is a naturally-occurring hormone in your body that is released into the bloodstream in a rhythmic manner. It stimulates the pituitary gland to produce FSH and LH. A special pump is worn with GnRH, which administers the hormone to your bloodstream via a small needle in your body every 60 to 90 seconds.
Undergoing IVF?
If you are going through IVF, your doctor may prescribe GnRH analogs in conjunction with other fertility drugs to prevent spontaneous ovulation. GnRH analogs work by stopping the production of FSH and LH, thereby preventing ovulation and reducing estrogen levels.
Specific GnRH agonists (Lupron, Synarel) work by providing a constant flow of GnRH. These drugs cause an initial stimulation of production of FSH and LH and then the production is halted.
GnRH antagonists (Cetrotide) work the same way, except they do not cause the initial stimulation of FSH and LH.
Speak with your doctor
Ideally this information about fertility drugs for women gives you an overview of the options available. Your doctor will create a personal treatment plan that addresses your specific infertility challenges. The good news is that most ovulation problems are treatable using fertility drugs or other high-tech procedures.
Sources: Resolve: Fertility Medications American Pregnancy Association: Infertility Medications American Society for Reproductive Medicine: Medications for Inducing Ovulation: A Guide for Patients
