6 Fertility Drugs For Women: When To Use And How They Work

Fertility drugs for women were first discovered and offered to women in the United States in the 1960s, and they have since then assisted many women in becoming pregnant. Most fertility tablets help increase the chances of conception by stimulating ovulation. In addition to enhancing pregnancy chances, these prescription-only drugs can also help resolve various medical issues in women. 

Read on to know more about fertility drugs, including their pros and cons, mechanism, and the right time to take them.

When Do You Need Fertility Drugs?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), infertility is a disease of the reproductive system, defined as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after a year or more of unprotected sexual intercourse. 

Fertility drugs are applicable and prescribed if you have infertility due to one or more of the following health conditions.

• Thyroid disorders
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Eating disorders
• Weight problems (Overweight/underweight)
• Issues with luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels

Most of these conditions cause missed or infrequent ovulation, and your doctor may prescribe tablets to address your specific concerns and help increase your chances of pregnancy.

How Do Fertility Drugs Work?

Fertility drugs work by

• Increasing the levels of certain hormones in your body to help release more than one egg per cycle. This process is known as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation or superovulation.
• Stimulating your ovaries to produce more eggs.
• Preventing concerns like premature ovulation during assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures.

6 Best Fertility Drugs for Women

Clomiphene Citrate

This medicine encourages ovulation by stimulating your pituitary gland. It is usually prescribed for women with ovulation issues like PCOS. It is also recommended for enhancing the production of eggs in women with regular ovulation. Take a look at some more details about the medicine.

• It should be taken for five days during the initial phase of your menstrual cycle, for up to 6-7 menstrual cycles.
• Its success rate usually depends on the age of women and other factors.
• This medicine increases the likeliness of multiple pregnancies.
• It is available under the brand names Clomidac, Clomid, Clomifene, and Bemot. 

Letrozole

This medicine is also used for stimulating ovulation. It activates your pituitary gland to make more follicle-stimulating hormones to encourage ovulation and release eggs. Additionally, it works for women suffering from PCOS, and those who want to improve the production of eggs. 

• Just like clomiphene, letrozole should be taken for five days in the initial phase of your menstrual cycle. 
• For women suffering from PCOS, this tablet may work better than clomiphene.
• It is also available under the brand name Femara.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

The main aim of this medication is to stimulate your ovaries to produce more follicles and eggs. It is an injectable drug, which can only be administered after your doctor’s go-ahead.

• Its treatment usually lasts for 10-12 days, depending on the time it takes for your eggs to mature.
• It is available under the brand name Follistim AQ, Gonal-F, Fostimon, Puregon, Bemfola, and Bravelle.

Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG)

This medication is a combination of hormones FSH and LH. These hormones are responsible for stimulating your ovaries to produce and ripen more eggs. Gonadotropins are beneficial for those who have healthy ovaries but cannot ovulate. 

• This injectable drug is administered 2-3 days after your period starts, and may last for up to 7-12 days.
• It is also available under the brand names Pergonal, Menopur, and Repronex.

Metformin Hydrochloride

This medication usually improves your body’s sensitivity to insulin and treats diabetes. Additionally, it can help treat ovulation problems in women suffering from PCOS. This oral medication also helps balance the testosterone and oestrogen levels in your body,  which in turn encourages regular ovulation.

• Its dose and duration usually depend on your clinical requirement.
• In certain cases, this medication is combined with clomiphene.
• It is found under the brand name Glucophage.

Cabergoline and Bromocriptine

These tablets are typically used to treat abnormal levels of prolactin hormone that interfere with your ovulation. High levels of prolactin is usually caused due to pituitary growths, thyroid or kidney disease, and consumption of antidepressants, which can further lead to problems in your ovulation and menstrual cycle. 

Are There Any Side Effects of Using Fertility Drugs?

Like any other medical treatment, fertility tablets may also have some side effects, typically upon long-term usage. Some common side effects of using fertility tablets include

• Mild reactions, such as hot flashes, moodiness, headaches, irritability, and restlessness.
• Ovarian stimulation syndrome, which causes your ovaries to become abnormally large due to fluid accumulation. This syndrome is associated with symptoms like nausea, stomach pain, swollen abdomen, reduced urine, and shortness of breath.
• Taking certain medications can increase the chances of multiple births.
• Increased risk of premature labour.

Conclusion

Fertility drugs for women are recommended to help increase your chances of pregnancy, and also treat other ovulation disorders. Most of these tablets help stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs in each cycle and encourage successful conception. However, you must only take these medications after consulting your healthcare provider as each of them have different functions and their dosage may vary based on your condition. 

Disclaimer: The primary focus of listing these drugs is to help you understand their general interaction, usage, and side effects. Also, the use of brand names is for easy identification. You should always check with your healthcare provider before using these medications. 

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