Clomid, also known as clomiphene citrate, is one of the most dependable fertility drugs marketed today. Doctors often prescribe this non-steroidal medicine as the first-line therapy for treating anovulatory infertility of varied nature. Clomid is a popular treatment choice among women because of its affordable price, ease of administration, lack of adverse side effects, and high availability.
Clomid shows one of the highest success rates among all non-steroidal fertility drugs, causing the onset of ovulation in as many as 80% of patients. However, this medicine is only helpful where infertility is the result of ovulation-related factors. If a woman cannot become pregnant after three cycles of Clomid, her OB-GYN will usually refer her and her partner to a fertility specialist for a more thorough checkup and tests.
What is the mode of action of Clomid?
Clomid is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). By inhibiting the activity of estrogen in the hypothalamus, Clomid stimulates the pituitary (master) gland and the hypothalamus to enhance the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Women affected by certain medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian disease often experience a critical lack of these three hormones, which leads to irregular or absent ovulation and reduced fertility. Clomid is used to fix such hormonal imbalance and ensure proper development of egg follicles, thus facilitating ovulation and increasing the chances of the woman to conceive naturally.
How to take Clomid safely?
Clomid is designed to be taken by mouth, which makes it a much more palatable choice of fertility drug. Only your prescribing doctor can decide on the correct and safe dose of this medicine and increase or decrease it according to your changing treatment needs. Always take only as much Clomid and as often as suggested by your OB or physician.
In most cases, women are advised to take 1-3 tablets (50-100mg) of Clomid per day for the duration of five days, starting on or near the fourth day of your menstrual cycle. If the treatment course with Clomid is successful, ovulation should be expected 7 or 8 days after the completion of such a course.
The manufacturer considers unsafe and does not advise to take dosages of Clomid larger than 100mg a day or extend the duration of the therapy course beyond five days per cycle. However, some women have benefited from longer course durations and higher dosages. Note that only your prescribing doctor can decide to prolong your treatment course or alter the dosage of Clomid.
When ovulation occurs following a course of Clomid, the fertility chances are between 10% and 13%, meaning that it may take a woman a few repeated courses of this medication to become pregnant. Usually, it is unadvised to repeat the treatment course with Clomid for more than three times (three monthly cycles) in a row. If the woman has not become pregnant over this time, the physician will refer her to a fertility specialist for a more comprehensive and in-depth examination.
How to confirm ovulation?
There are a few approved methods to confirm whether ovulation has occurred in the result of Clomid treatment. Some are quick and easy; others take more time and effort.
They include:
- urine test for LH detection
- transvaginal ultrasound scan
- biopsy of the uterus lining
- blood test
- basal body temperature (BBT)
Using a urine test kit or taking basal body temperature are the easiest testing methods that can be performed by a woman at home. The others are more invasive and require visiting a hospital.
What are the side effects of Clomid?
One of the main reasons why doctors choose Clomid as the first-line treatment option is its decent success rate with a minimum number of adverse reactions.
Most commonly, women who take Clomid may experience the following mild side effects:
- sickness in the stomach and vomiting
- headache
- breast tenderness or other uncomfortable sensations in the breast area
- hot flashes
- mood swings
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Rarely, women may develop a more threatening condition known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), especially after the very first course of treatment with Clomid. OHSS is characterized by severe stomach pain and diarrhea, quick weight gain, swelling in the face or abdomen, labored urination or its complete absence, shortness of breath, pain when breathing, and rapid heart rate. If you spot any of these, call your prescribing physician right away.
Less common and more worrying symptoms that may occur after using Clomid include:
- pain, discomfort, sense of pressure and enlargement in the pelvic area
- severe vision problems and abnormalities
- enhanced sensitivity to light
- massive vaginal bleedings
If you experience any of the said symptoms, inform your physician, and get urgent medical assistance.
Contraindications and unsafe drug interactions with Clomid
Clomid is contraindicated in pregnant women or those who are hypersensitive to clomiphene citrate.
This fertility medication is also dangerous for patients affected by one of the following health problems:
- liver diseases or dysfunction
- uterine bleeding of unknown origin
- fibroids
- ovarian cysts
- thyroid or adrenal dysfunction
- thrombophlebitis
- organic intracranial lesion
Always tell your doctor which prescription and OTC medications, herbal supplements, and vitamins you are taking before they can prescribe you with Clomid.
This drug is known to interact dangerously with the following meds and products:
- bexarotene (brand-name drug is called Targretin) – may cause pancreatitis if combined with Clomid.
- ospemifene – its combination with Clomid increases the danger of blood clots, strokes, and certain types of cancer.
- alcohol – if combined with alcohol, Clomid causes giddiness, sickness in the stomach, vomiting, and visual distortions.
Warnings and important information
Clomid is known to increase the likelihood of multifetal pregnancy (the chance of having twins with Clomid is 6-8%) since the drug stimulates the release of multiple eggs per ovulation. Talk to your doctor about the possible dangers of such multifetal pregnancy and discuss how you can avoid complications. Closer and more aggressive monitoring might be required if a woman is unable or unwilling to carry twins or triplets.
Some health experts warn that the prolonged use of Clomid may enhance the risk of borderline ovarian tumors or invasive ovarian cancer. Further studies are required to confirm or disprove the theory.
Not all women seeking infertility treatment will benefit from using Clomid.
The medication will not stimulate ovulation whose absence is caused by:
- fallopian tube blockage
- primary ovarian insufficiency
- utero-ovarian lesions
- early menopause
- insufficient body weight
- hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
Please be informed that infertile women who have one of these medical conditions may need more intensive, targeted treatment.
Product Disclaimer:
The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This article shouldn’t be used as a substitute for a one-on-one consultation with a medical professional. It is important to analyze the risks before consuming Levitra and make sure that there aren’t any contraindications. You may need to undergo a physical examination and/or certain laboratory tests to assess the state of your health. While this drug is tolerated well by most patients, it should be safe in your particular situation. Being monitored by a medical specialist is the best way to avoid any unwanted adverse effects and complications.