When physicians tell couples they can do nothing about their infertility problems anymore, today, couples meeting infertility issues have a lot of options to choose, one of this is using fertility drugs.
But what is the real deal with fertility drug?
In women Fertility Drugs are medications used to stimulate follicle development of the ovary in order to be fertile.
Studies confirm that the discovery of reproductive hormones; female hormone (estrogen) in 1923, and male hormone (testosterone) in 1935 was the answer to the growth of modern fertility treatments. The earliest fertility drugs made accessible was the Clomid and hMG, then on 1970s and 1980s "test tube babies" were presented so from then on, women of child bearing age struggling of infertility affairs had turned toward fertility drug treatments as a solution.
Kinds of Fertility Drugs for Women:
1. Clomiphene Citrate (Serophene and Clomid) - is an inexpensive and effective ovarian stimulator inhibiting the negative feedback of estrogen.
2. Aromatase inhibitors - primarily a treatment for breast cancer, but also work as fertility medication similar to the mechanism of clomiphene citrate.
3. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) - is normally produced during pregnancy. As a medication, it is used as an ovulation inducer by stimulating the ovarian follicle to release an ovum.
4. Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG) (Repronex or menopur) - an injectible fertility drug that contains follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) which acts directly on the ovaries by increasing fertility.
5. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (Follistim, Bravelle, and Gonal-F) - an injectable drug that stimulates ovaries to produce more follicle and increases the number of eggs.
6. Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) - is synthesized and release from the neurons of the hypothalamus. This hormone is responsible for the synthesis and secretion of gonadotropin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and usually recommended for women with irregular menstrual cycle.
7. Progesteron - a natural occurring hormone that helps increase the chances of successful fertilization. It also helps prepare the linings of the uterus (endometrium) for the arrival and i8mplantation of the embryo.
The efficiency of the fertility drugs depends on the condition of the women and as this fertility drugs are taken until pregnancy is obtained and in that span of time of therapy women are closely monitored by their physicians to help determine if fertility has been achieved.
You may also feel potential risks and side effects with fertility drugs but if you know what could probably go wrong and what actions can be done to lower the chances of having difficulties, you'll be fine.
Potential Risks of using Fertility Drugs for Women:
One: it may take as long as three months for the developing follicle to go through the whole process of development and maturation.
Fertility drugs also provides high chances of having multiple births and multiple births sometimes result in premature birth and because during pregnancy mothers may experience extreme nausea and vomiting, high risk of pregnancy induced hypertension and gestational diabetes, it also compromises the mother and babies health. Low birth weight, high risk for developmental delays and cerebral palsy are other outcomes to babies on the other hand.
Fertility drugs also cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which occur when the ovaries becomes enlarged, filling with fluid, thus causing difficulties during ovulation.
Lowering Potential Risk of complications:
1. Nice prenatal care lowers the risk of multiple pregnancy and OHSS because if women's health condition is bargained early treatment can be performed.
2. Take a lower dose of fertility drugs as possible.
3. Be careful in choosing several fertility clinics as they can be overly aggressive in healing infertilities.
4. When monitoring your cycle, be careful and keep to the guidance and instructions of your doctor.
Note: Always discuss with your doctor before taking any Fertility Drugs.