Top Nine Fertility Drugs - What They Are and How They Work
There are many options to treat infertility.
And one of the most widely used are fertility drugs.
These medications cater more to women with some ovulation disorder.
And now here are nine of the most common brands of fertility drugs that your doctor might prescribe you.
The first one is called clomiphene.
The brand names these go by include Clomid and Serophene.
Taken orally, this particular medication is especially useful for women who need their ovulation stimulated because they suffer with polycystic ovary syndrome.
But it may also be prescribed for other ovulatory disorders.
It works by triggering the pituitary gland to release more of the hormones FSH and LH, which in turn stimulate the growth of an ovarian follicle which contains an egg.
The drug human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG is usually given in conjunction with this drug.
hCG stimulates the follicle to release an egg.
There's another medication, called Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG doctors may prescribe you as an injection.
This particular drug works best for those women who can't ovulate because the pituitary gland itself.
For these women, the pituitary gland fails to stimulate the monthly cycle.
This drug bypasses the pituitary gland to influence the ovaries directly.
Not surprisingly, hMG -- which is probably given to you under the brand name of Repronex -- contains both FSH and LH.
Another method of stimulating the cycle of the ovaries is simply through the use of giving your system FSH independently -- without any other medication.
You'll recognize if you're taking this through the brand names of Gonal-F and Bravelle.
Don't be surprised if along with your prescription of FSH, your physician also hands you a second one for hCG.
These two are often used in combination.
If the cause of your infertility is a menstrual cycle that's irregular or erratic, then you may be receiving Gn-RH, known as Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs.
This specific treatment is quite often used for those women who ovulate prematurely.
By that, I mean she has her period before the lead follicle is mature enough.
This form of treatment supplies the pituitary gland with the Gn-RH, enabling the doctor then to induce follicle growth through the use of FSH.
Another medication that you may be given orally is called Metformin -- you'll probably discover the brand name is Glucophage.
It's recommended when your physician believes that your infertility is caused by insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance, by the way, is suspected as a cause in the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
If your menstrual cycle is irregular because you have higher than normal levels of prolactin, then you may very well find yourself taking the medication Bromocriptine.
Sold under the name of Parlodel, this is the hormone which triggers milk production in women who have just given birth.
You may find that your doctor wants to prescribe a medication called an aromatase inhibitor.
This class of medication, which includes letrozole and anatrozole, has not been approved by the U.
S.
Food and Drug Administration for use for the problem of infertility.
Aromatase inhibitors are drugs made specifically for breast cancer.
Many doctors though prescribe it when clomiphene citrate is not effective.
This is reserved for women who can't ovulate on their own.
You need to speak with your physician about this if he recommends this drug.
The manufacturer itself has warned physicians to refrain from using this.
Its use may cause adverse health effects including birth defects and miscarriages.
And one of the most widely used are fertility drugs.
These medications cater more to women with some ovulation disorder.
And now here are nine of the most common brands of fertility drugs that your doctor might prescribe you.
The first one is called clomiphene.
The brand names these go by include Clomid and Serophene.
Taken orally, this particular medication is especially useful for women who need their ovulation stimulated because they suffer with polycystic ovary syndrome.
But it may also be prescribed for other ovulatory disorders.
It works by triggering the pituitary gland to release more of the hormones FSH and LH, which in turn stimulate the growth of an ovarian follicle which contains an egg.
The drug human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG is usually given in conjunction with this drug.
hCG stimulates the follicle to release an egg.
There's another medication, called Human menopausal gonadotropin or hMG doctors may prescribe you as an injection.
This particular drug works best for those women who can't ovulate because the pituitary gland itself.
For these women, the pituitary gland fails to stimulate the monthly cycle.
This drug bypasses the pituitary gland to influence the ovaries directly.
Not surprisingly, hMG -- which is probably given to you under the brand name of Repronex -- contains both FSH and LH.
Another method of stimulating the cycle of the ovaries is simply through the use of giving your system FSH independently -- without any other medication.
You'll recognize if you're taking this through the brand names of Gonal-F and Bravelle.
Don't be surprised if along with your prescription of FSH, your physician also hands you a second one for hCG.
These two are often used in combination.
If the cause of your infertility is a menstrual cycle that's irregular or erratic, then you may be receiving Gn-RH, known as Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs.
This specific treatment is quite often used for those women who ovulate prematurely.
By that, I mean she has her period before the lead follicle is mature enough.
This form of treatment supplies the pituitary gland with the Gn-RH, enabling the doctor then to induce follicle growth through the use of FSH.
Another medication that you may be given orally is called Metformin -- you'll probably discover the brand name is Glucophage.
It's recommended when your physician believes that your infertility is caused by insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance, by the way, is suspected as a cause in the development of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
If your menstrual cycle is irregular because you have higher than normal levels of prolactin, then you may very well find yourself taking the medication Bromocriptine.
Sold under the name of Parlodel, this is the hormone which triggers milk production in women who have just given birth.
You may find that your doctor wants to prescribe a medication called an aromatase inhibitor.
This class of medication, which includes letrozole and anatrozole, has not been approved by the U.
S.
Food and Drug Administration for use for the problem of infertility.
Aromatase inhibitors are drugs made specifically for breast cancer.
Many doctors though prescribe it when clomiphene citrate is not effective.
This is reserved for women who can't ovulate on their own.
You need to speak with your physician about this if he recommends this drug.
The manufacturer itself has warned physicians to refrain from using this.
Its use may cause adverse health effects including birth defects and miscarriages.
