Fertility drugs are used by many couples as the first line of treatment for infertility as they increase sex hormone levels in the body and are a relatively inexpensive option. Roughly 25% of women's fertility problems are related to ovulation, so promoting ovulation may be all that is necessary to achieve pregnancy. Although fertility drugs have been used safely for decades, they don't come without side effects however and can also increase the chance of multiple births.
CLOMID (Serophene)
Clomid is the most commonly used fertility drug. Also known as Serophene or Clomiphene, Clomid is used for women with ovulation issues. Clomid is an inexpensive option and useful for treatment of irregular cycles, PCOS, anovulation (where there is menstruation but no ovulation) or unexplained fertility. Clomid is easy to use ie tablet rather than injection, has relatively few side effects and is often the first line of assisted reproduction in women whose fallopian tubes are healthy boasting an 80% success rate for stimulating ovulation.
Clomid tablets contain the active ingredient clomifene citrate, which is an 'anti-oestrogen' drug. It stimulates ovulation by blocking the action of oestrogen.
In a normal menstrual cycle, oestrogen levels rise following ovulation. The oestrogen acts on it's receptors in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This causes the hypothalamus to send messages to the pituitary gland that make it, to stop releasing the hormones that control the development and release of an egg. These hormones are known as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). FSH stimulates the ovaries and LH causes the release of an egg from the ovaries (ovulation).
Blocking the Oestrogen receptors in the Hypothalamus, stops the messages being sent to the pituitary gland. As a result, the pituitary gland keeps releasing FSH and LH, and the increase in the levels of these hormones increases the chances of egg development and ovulation.
Taking clomifene doesn't cause ovulation straight away, but starts off the chain reaction that should lead to ovulation between five and ten days after the last tablet is taken.
Clomid tablets contain the active ingredient clomifene citrate, which is an 'anti-oestrogen' drug. It stimulates ovulation by blocking the action of oestrogen.
In a normal menstrual cycle, oestrogen levels rise following ovulation. The oestrogen acts on it's receptors in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This causes the hypothalamus to send messages to the pituitary gland that make it, to stop releasing the hormones that control the development and release of an egg. These hormones are known as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). FSH stimulates the ovaries and LH causes the release of an egg from the ovaries (ovulation).
Blocking the Oestrogen receptors in the Hypothalamus, stops the messages being sent to the pituitary gland. As a result, the pituitary gland keeps releasing FSH and LH, and the increase in the levels of these hormones increases the chances of egg development and ovulation.
Taking clomifene doesn't cause ovulation straight away, but starts off the chain reaction that should lead to ovulation between five and ten days after the last tablet is taken.
PUREGON (Follitropin Beta)
Puregon injections contain the active ingredient follitropin beta, a synthetic form of the natural sex hormone FSH. In the ovaries, FSH increases the number of growing follicles and stimulates their development. Within these follicles are the developing eggs. FSH also increases the production of oestrogen, causing the largest follicle to continue to develop.
Puregon is used to stimulate the development of follicles and eggs in women who are having difficulties getting pregnant due to problems with ovulation. It is used in women who have been unsuccessful with Clomid (Serophene). When the follicle has developed appropriately, another medicine called human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), eg Choragon, is given. This causes ovulation to happen.
Puregon can also be used to stimulate multiple follicles and eggs to develop in women who are having assisted conception treatments such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). The eggs are harvested and fertilised in a test tube and the resulting embryo is then transferred to the womb.
In men, FSH is involved in the production and development of sperm in the testicles. This medicine is used to increase sperm production in men who have a low sperm count as a result of low hormone levels. It is also used in combination with human chorionic gonadotrophin HCG, which increases the production of testosterone in the testicles and helps the FSH to work.
Treatment with Puregon is commenced under the supervision of a specialist trained in the treatment of fertility problems. The injection is administered either under the skin (subcutaneously) or into a muscle (intramuscularly). If you are going to administer the injections yourself, your doctor will show you how to inject them under the skin.
PREGNYL (Ovidrel)
Pregnyl injections contain the active ingredient chorionic gonadotrophin, which is a natural sex hormone also known as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). In women, HCG is used together with other hormones called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) in the treatment of infertility.
Normally, in the ovaries in women, FSH increases the number of growing follicles and stimulates their development. Within the follicles are the developing eggs. FSH also increases the production of oestrogen, and under the influence of this hormone, the largest follicle continues to develop. As the amount of oestrogen in the blood increases, this triggers a surge of luteinising hormone (LH), which results in the release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation).
Pregnyl injections are used to stimulate follicles to mature and ovulation to occur in women who are having difficulties getting pregnant due to problems with ovulation, or to stimulate the final maturation of eggs in the ovaries of women having IVF. For these women, the eggs will be collected 32 to 36 hours after the Pregnyl injection, for fertilisation in a laboratory.
Firstly, follicle development is stimulated with daily injections of FSH or FSH & LH. Once the follicles have developed appropriately, one injection of Pregnyl is given. The HCG in the Pregnyl injection mimics the action of luteinising hormone and causes the release of an egg from the ovary. The woman is usually advised to have sex on the day of the Pregnyl injection and the day after. Up to three repeat injections may given in the following nine days.Pregnyl injections are administered either under the skin (subcutaneously) or into a muscle (intramuscularly). If you are going to administer the injections yourself, your doctor will show you how to inject them under the skin.
HCG also mimics the action of luteinising hormone in men. The effect of this in men is to stimulate production of the male hormone, testosterone.
Normally, in the ovaries in women, FSH increases the number of growing follicles and stimulates their development. Within the follicles are the developing eggs. FSH also increases the production of oestrogen, and under the influence of this hormone, the largest follicle continues to develop. As the amount of oestrogen in the blood increases, this triggers a surge of luteinising hormone (LH), which results in the release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation).
Pregnyl injections are used to stimulate follicles to mature and ovulation to occur in women who are having difficulties getting pregnant due to problems with ovulation, or to stimulate the final maturation of eggs in the ovaries of women having IVF. For these women, the eggs will be collected 32 to 36 hours after the Pregnyl injection, for fertilisation in a laboratory.
Firstly, follicle development is stimulated with daily injections of FSH or FSH & LH. Once the follicles have developed appropriately, one injection of Pregnyl is given. The HCG in the Pregnyl injection mimics the action of luteinising hormone and causes the release of an egg from the ovary. The woman is usually advised to have sex on the day of the Pregnyl injection and the day after. Up to three repeat injections may given in the following nine days.Pregnyl injections are administered either under the skin (subcutaneously) or into a muscle (intramuscularly). If you are going to administer the injections yourself, your doctor will show you how to inject them under the skin.
HCG also mimics the action of luteinising hormone in men. The effect of this in men is to stimulate production of the male hormone, testosterone.
***You should always contact your Physician
prior to using any fertility drug***
prior to using any fertility drug***
Disclaimer:
This is an information website only, based on my experiences and information I have obtained through my own readings, discussions and related to topics of interest to me. For further information, I suggest you do your own research. There are differing opinions on some topics so some websites may give conflicting information and currency of information may change over time. For medical advice, I suggest you contact your healthcare provider.
This is an information website only, based on my experiences and information I have obtained through my own readings, discussions and related to topics of interest to me. For further information, I suggest you do your own research. There are differing opinions on some topics so some websites may give conflicting information and currency of information may change over time. For medical advice, I suggest you contact your healthcare provider.
