How does clomid work

The presence of these hormones catalyzes the maturation of the egg follicles, increasing the chances of ovulation. Thus, Clomid is not an infertility treatment cure-all. Clomid does not increase your chances of pregnancy if you have infertility factors that are unrelated to ovulation, such as blocked tubes, uterine abnormalities, ovarian failure, pelvic lesions, certain male infertility factors, etc.

One of the reasons doctors and their patients prefer Clomid is that it has reasonable success rates and minimal low-risk side effects. Those who do have side effects report bloating, nausea or headaches.

Blurred vision and hot flashes have also been reported. Very few women ever experience serious side effects from Clomid. Your physician or fertility specialist should closely monitor these cycles. Since Clomid results in the release of multiple eggs, your chances of having multiples twins or triplets…sometimes more goes up.

Clomiphene Citrate for ovulation induction Clomiphene used in conjunction with a medication called Provera may be effective in initiating menstruation and ovulation in women who have no menstrual cycle: Treatment begins with a day course of Provera, taken orally. Two to three days after Provera is completed, a menstrual period should begin.

On the 3rd, 4th or 5th day of menstrual flow, a course of clomiphene is started. A clomiphene citrate 50 mg tablet is taken orally for 5 days. On day 11 or 12 of the menstrual cycle, ultrasound monitoring is conducted to determine if an ovarian follicle or follicles have developed. Also at this time, patients are asked to use an ovulation predictor kit to test their urine for a surge in LH luteinizing hormone indicating that eggs have matured and ovulation is imminent.

If no LH surge is detected, ovulation itself may be triggered with an injection of the medication hCG Ovidrel , which will cause the release of the mature egg s from the follicle s. Natural intercourse or insemination is timed to ovulation. If ovulation has been assisted by an hCG injection, a form of the hormone progesterone is given via vaginal tablets or gel.

The progesterone hormone serves to support the endometrial uterine lining and prepare it for the fertilized egg. Two weeks after ovulation, patients are asked to take a home pregnancy urine test. If the test is positive, a blood test will be performed to confirm results.

On Day 3 of the menstrual period, a course of clomiphene is begun. Starting clomiphene early in the cycle helps with the recruitment of more than one mature egg. Typically, two clomiphene citrate mg tablets are taken orally for 5 days, from cycle day 3 to cycle day 7. The ultrasound helps to determine how many mature eggs are forming within their follicles.

In order for ovulation induction to be successful, follicles should be visible at this point with just one follicle, we would not be significantly enhancing a woman's chances to become pregnant. When an ovarian follicle matures, it produces the hormone estrogen, which causes the lining to thicken in preparation for an implanting embryo.

Ultrasound monitoring at this stage also serves to measure the endometrial uterine lining and to make sure the clomiphene itself is not having any adverse effects on the endometrium see Clomiphene side effects, below , At this stage, patients are also asked to use an ovulation predictor kit to test for a surge in LH hormone, indicating imminent ovulation. In most cases, patients are given an injection of hCG human chorionic gonadotropin also known as Ovidrel.

This hormone initiates the release of the egg ovulation and the development of the corpus luteum, which will help the body to produce progesterone. Ovulation usually occurs approximately hours after the hCG injection. After ovulation, a form of the hormone progesterone is given via vaginal tablets or gel in order to support the endometrial uterine lining and prepare it for the fertilized egg.

Patients are asked to take a home pregnancy test urine test two weeks after ovulation. If the home test is positive, a blood test will be performed to confirm the results.

Clomiphene can sometimes decrease cervical mucus production, which may make it impossible for the sperm to swim through the cervix into the uterus. To get around this potential problem, intrauterine insemination IUI may be advised so that cervical mucus may be bypassed altogether. If the lining is too thin, the embryo cannot implant successfully.

When taking Clomid, estrogen levels are lower, causing the cervical mucus to be thicker than usual. This can interfere with the ability of the sperm to get into the uterus and fallopian tubes. So far, there is no conclusive data that Clomid increases cancer risk in women. But there is some research suggesting a possible increase in endometrial cancer with the use of ovulation-inducing agents. To date, the research has not shown a significant risk for miscarriage, birth defects, or other pregnancy complications.

You should speak with your doctor about any specific concerns. It may just mean that you need a different form of treatment or that something additional is going on. Your doctor will likely suggest additional testing to identify these issues so they can be corrected before future treatment cycles. This process results from a complicated series of hormonal changes that occur in the beginning of her cycle.

This egg then travels down the fallopian tube where it may or may not be fertilized by a sperm cell. If the egg is fertilized, it may implant in the uterine lining and cause a pregnancy. Without regular ovulation, it can become difficult to get pregnant. The odds of a woman getting pregnant by having sex while on her period are low, but not zero.

Knowing the stages of the menstrual cycle can help put you in control of your body and empower you to know when to speak with a doctor. There are many reasons you might consider donating your eggs. Learn more about the egg donation process, including possible risks, legal…. The biological clock describes the pressure people may feel to get pregnant while at the peak of their reproductive years, before fertility declines.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common cause of infertility. We'll discuss why and what you can do. AMH levels help determine your ovarian reserve or the number of eggs you have at the time of testing.