Medical Help for Infertility

                                                                                         

Fertility drugs are most often the first step that is taken when a woman is unable to conceive on her own. These drugs promote ovulation. Clomiphene, which stimulates the brain to cause a release of egg(s) into the ovaries and gonadotropins, which stimulate the ovaries to cause a release of egg(s) are prescribed each year to millions of women. The side effects of these drugs can be quite overwhelming physically and emotionally. Side effects can include breast discomfort, blurred vision, vomiting, and depression, headaches, swelling of ovaries, fibroid cysts, and weight gain. There can also be more extreme complications of ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome which is when the drugs cause too many eggs to produce. This condition will improve with direct physician care but can include swelling and leaking of fluid from the ovaries into the abdomen.

Clomiphene is a pill that is taken for five days of each cycle per month. This is taken to stimulate the release of hormones in the brain that will cause mature egg(s) to be developed. The average time that this drug is taken is three to four months with a thirty to forty success rate. This can also produce more than one mature egg resulting in twins or multiple births. There is a ten percent increased chance of multiple births. This can cause a greater risk of miscarriage and birth complications for the mother. If the woman has not been menstruating on a regular basis than an additional drug, Provera, must first be prescribed to stimulate menstruation. The ovulation process will be closely monitored by the physician. If there is no success after three cycles of stimulation with Clomiphene that an increase of medication will be prescribed or additional treatments will be considered.

Gonadotropins are used when Clomiphene is found to be unsuccessful. Gonadotropins are given in shot form and are injected by the patient or the spouse of the patient for seven to twelve days each month. Frequent blood tests will be done by the physician. Inter vaginal ultrasounds are done frequently to monitor the progress and success of the drug. When the eggs are seen to be mature another injection, this time of HCG will be injected to induce ovulation. Within 24 hours ovulation will take place. The patient will be sent home to have intercourse or artificial insemination will be scheduled. The cost of each cycle of this treatment including the cost of ultrasounds can be around 3,000.00. This cycle may need to be repeated if unsuccessful.

When undergoing these fertility treatments much support is needed for the patient. Constant supervision of physician and spouse are needed during this process and an outside support person is suggested. The amount of women who conceive using these drug methods are between twenty to sixty percent.

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