Fertility drugs: Side Effects and Success Rate


Couples all across the world throng infertility clinics in the hope that they can find a way to produce children of their own. As your body changes with age, it gets difficult for them to conceive naturally despite trying for months. Even though it may come as a surprise, unplanned at times, it is not always that easy to conceive a child. The ovulation cycle of the mother needs to be tracked for the best shot at conceiving, and it takes more than at least two to three tries to change the colour of that pregnancy stick in your favour. Fertility drugs are one of the ways Before recommending any kind of fertility boosting drugs, the doctor needs to first diagnose the issue, using blood samples, analyze the images of the uterus and fallopian tubes, along with ovulation tests. They may also ask the expecting mother to chart her menstrual cycles and record her body temperature every morning. If the diagnosed condition may not respond positively to the prescribed drugs, the doctor may recommend IUI or IVF. A woman might need to wait for a few months before starting treatment because the fertility drugs can only be taken on specific days of the menstrual cycle.


If a woman is trying to get pregnant with a male partner, then he also needs to receive fertility testing. In some instances, both the woman and man may have fertility issues, and treating just the woman may not be enough.
If the first treatment does not work,the doctor might recommend running more tests, another treatment cycle, or a different kind of treatment altogether.


For example, in the case of the fertility drug Clomid. Most women take Clomid and feel completely fine. Others may experience mild headaches or mood swings. It is tough to guess how every person will react until they take the medication.



Side effects can be defined as the unwanted and unintentional symptoms that result from taking a certain medication.


Whether or not you’ll experience side effects depends mostly on


The Type of Medication You Take.

Sperm motility: Your sperms do not move as they should.

Abnormally formed sperms



Most common Side Effects of Fertility Drugs


Many women experience side effects of fertility drugs, especially those that are used to administer hormones.


The most common side effects include:


Mood Changes, Including Mood Swings, Anxiety, and Depression.

Temporary Physical Side Effects, Including Nausea, Vomiting, Headaches, Cramps, and Breast Tenderness

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Multiple Births

Increased Risk of Pregnancy Loss


Some women ovulate irregularly or simply not at all. Almost 1 in 4 women with infertility have issues with ovulation in their menstrual cycle.


Drugs that can treat ovulation issues include:



Metformin (Glucophage): This is known to decrease the insulin resistance.Mostly women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), especially those with a BMI more than 35, may be insulin resistant, which can be the cause of problems with ovulation.


Dopamine agonists: These drugs work by reducing the levels of a hormone called prolactin. In some women, production of too much prolactin causes ovulation issues. Clomiphene (Clomid): This drug triggers ovulation by the body. Many doctors recommend it as the first treatment option for a woman with ovulation problems.


Letrozole (Femara): Like clomid, letrozole can trigger ovulation. Among women with PCOS, especially those with obesity, letrozole has been seen to work better. A 2014 study noted that 27.5 percent of women with PCOS who took letrozole eventually gave birth, compared to 19.1 percent of those who took clomiphene. Gonadotropins: This group of hormones is known for stimulating activity in the ovaries, including ovulation. When other treatments do not work, a doctor may recommend using a follicle-stimulating hormone and a luteinizing hormone in the group. This treatment is administered in the form of an injection or a nasal spray.


In about 10 percent of infertility cases, doctors are not able to zero in on a specific cause. The medical term for this is unexplained infertility.