When physicians inform couples they can do nothing about their infertility problems anymore, today, couples confronting infertility issues have a lot of options to select, one of this is using fertility drugs.
What are fertility drugs and what do they do? How are they significant?
Fertility Drugs for Women are medications prescribed by physicians to kindle reproductive system in order to be fertile and in women, it is utilized to stimulate follicle growth of the ovary.
Studies prove that the discovery of reproductive hormones; female hormone (estrogen) in 1923, and male hormone (testosterone) in 1935 was the solution to the development of modern fertility treatments. Because of the earliest fertility drugs made available named Clomid and the launch of "test tube babies", infertility issues 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.
As this fertility drugs are taken until pregnancy is achieved, women are directly monitored by their physicians as the effectiveness of the fertility drugs relies on the condition of the women.
Like any other drugs, fertility drugs come with potential risks and side effects so it is important to know what could possibly go wrong and what actions can be performed to lower the chances of having complications.
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 total process of development and maturation.
Other risks are high chances of having manifold births which result in premature birth and compromising the mother and babies health as during pregnancy mothers may experience severe nausea and vomiting, high risk of pregnancy induced hypertension and gestational diabetes. Low birth weight, high risk for developmental delays and cerebral palsy are other outcomes to babies on the other hand.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a state where ovaries becomes engorged, filling with fluid, thus causing complications during ovulation is another drawback of using fertility drug.
Lowering Potential Risk of complications:
1. In case of compromised health condition of women, good prenatal care lowers the risk of multiple pregnancy and OHSS.
2. Take a lower dose of fertility drugs as possible.
3. Be careful in choosing several fertility clinics as they can be overly forceful in curing infertilities.
4. Prioritize your health and your baby so be careful in monitoring your cycle and follow the advice and instructions of your doctor.
Note: Always consult your doctor before taking any Fertility Drugs for Women.
