Guest Author - Ellen Winick

Clomiphene is the generic name for a drug which stimulates the hormones effecting ovulation. Brand names include Clomid and Serophene.

This drug has been used for more than 30 years and is primarily prescribed to women who are having fertility problems including irregular menstruation, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and anovulation (no ovulation). It can also be used prior to IVF (invitro fertilization) to improve its success.

Clomiphene is a powerful medication which can affect the many sources of estrogen in your body to help stimulate ovulation (your ovaries releasing 1 or more eggs). It makes the body believe that it has lowered levels of estrogen which in turn fakes the brain into thinking that the ovary is not producing an egg. This stimulates an increase of other hormones which triggers a reaction in the ovaries.

If your doctor recommends Clomiphene, you will be instructed to take it orally on particular days related to your cycle. If successful, ovulation usually occurs 5-10 days after taking Clomiphene. So, sexual intercourse will need to be timed accordingly to produce a pregnancy. Clomiphene is normally discontinued if not successful after 6 cycles. Beyond 6 cycles, it has not been shown to be effective. (Another report indicates that side effects, including liver problems, increase if a break is not taken after 3 months.) Your doctor may start you out at a low dose and increase the dosage over time if it is unsuccessful. Make sure you understand the appropriateness of these increases.

Clomid shows an 85% success rate in inducing ovulation for women who use it, though only half will succeed in becoming pregnant.

Before prescribing Clomiphene, your doctor may advise pelvic exams or ultrasounds to assess any problems with your ovaries or uterus.

If you are using Clomiphene and do not begin menstruation by day 35 of your cycle, you have either failed to ovulate or have become pregnant. In either event, you will want to consult your doctor. When you are on Clomiphene, it is not uncommon to have long cycles or late periods.

Side effects associated with Clomiphene include:

Dizziness, headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, blurred vision or visual side effects during or shortly after treatment. Ovarian cysts (benign, usually resolve themselves) develop during treatment in about 5% of women. There is an increase in multiple births and their associated complications.

More serious complications include: abdominal or pelvic pain or swelling,
nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; breast tenderness or discomfort;changes in cervical mucous;abnormal uterine bleeding; ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, kidney problems, liver problems, fluid collection in the lungs and stomach.

The package instructs users not to drive or operate heavy machinery while taking.

There is also a strong caution (what’s called the FDA pregnancy category X) that taking Clomiphene when you are pregnant can cause birth defects. So you want to make sure you have not become pregnant before you take this medication.