While some women may seem to get pregnant at the drop of a hat, others may require medical intervention. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 10 to 15 percent of American couples experience infertility. Your doctor may diagnose you with infertility problems after a year of frequent, unprotected sex. Treatment options vary, depending on the causes of your infertility. In addition to therapeutic treatments, surgical intervention and injections, some oral drugs may increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Clomiphene Citrate
Sold under the brand names Serophene and Clomid, clomiphene citrate helps the function of your pituitary gland. This gland, located near the base of your brain, helps stimulate healthy follicle development, a necessary step in producing eggs for fertilization. Your doctor may prescribe clomiphene citrate if you experience irregular menstrual cycles. According to Georgia Reproductive Specialists, a medical facility devoted to reproductive health, this oral drug may stay in your system for six to eight weeks after you discontinue it. Prescribed for five days each cycle, the initial dosage may consist of just one 50-milligram pill each day. Your doctor may increase your dose four pills each day to achieve the desired results. You may notice some side effects while taking clomiphene citrate, such as nausea, bloating, headaches and blurred vision. Taking this drug may increase your chances of having twins or triplets.
Letrozole
Femara, the brand name for letrozole, produces results similar to clomiphene citrate. The Georgia Reproductive Specialists website advises that one difference between letrozole and clomiphene citrate involves the amount of time the drugs remain in your body. While clomiphene citrate may linger as long as two months after the last dosage, letrozole only works for one cycle. This medication quickly dissipates from your system once you discontinue its use. Like clomiphene citrate, your doctor may ask you to take this pill between days three and five of your menstrual cycle. The normal dosage for this pill is 2.5mg. Letrozole can cause the same side effects as clomiphene citrate, although this treatment may have a smaller chance of causing adverse effects on the lining of your uterus.
Metformin
The Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago website advises that metformin may help ovulation problems in women with polycystic ovaries. Polycystic ovaries contain several small cysts that may show up on an ultrasound picture of your ovaries. Sold under the brand name Glucophage, this oral drug helps control diabetes. Used in the treatment of infertility, metformin may boost the effectiveness of other medications, such as letrozole and clomiphene citrate. According to the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago, about 25 percent of women experience side effects from this drug, such as nausea, cramping diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. Your doctor may prescribe 500mg pills for you to take one to three times each day.
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- baby #2 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
