Understanding Clomid: Fertility Treatment for Thirty Years
A large number of women who have experienced infertility are familiar with the medication Clomid. This drug, also known as clomiphene citrate, is the most commonly prescribed fertility drug today. One of the reasons is that Clomid as fertility treatment can help a number of the most common problems related to difficulty conceiving. These include hormonal deficiencies, luteal phase defects and irregular menstrual cycles. Clomid as fertility treatment has been used successfully for thirty years, and doctors continue to prescribe it for these medical issues more than any other medication.
Hormonal Deficiencies
To understand how Clomid as a fertility treatment works in the area of hormonal deficiencies, it is important to have a basic understanding of how the delicate hormonal balance can affect the process of conception. In order for an egg to be released during ovulation, the hormones FSH and LH must be present. If there are not sufficient amounts of these hormones, the egg may not be released and ovulation may not occur. Clomid acts as an estrogen receptor to prompt the production of these hormones, allowing ovulation to be completed.
Luteal Phase Defects
A luteal phase defect is another type of hormonal imbalance, but this one takes place during the second half of the monthly cycle. If a woman has a luteal phase defect, the time between ovulation and menstruation, of ten days or less, there may be a hormone deficiency that could result in an early miscarriage. Progesterone is the hormone in question for this issue, and Clomid as a fertility treatment can increase the production of progesterone during this stage of the cycle.
Irregular Periods
Irregular cycles are often the result of a woman ovulating infrequently or not at all, which means that it is highly unlikely that conception will be able to take place. In these situations, Clomid as fertility treatment can be highly effective in regulating the monthly cycle, allowing a woman a greater likelihood that ovulation will take place and she will be able to conceive. This can be a successful option in women who are both anovulatory (no ovulation is taking place), or simply do not ovulate regularly.
In all of the circumstances, Clomid as fertility treatment can be a highly effective option. However, this medication is not without its potential risks, and therefore is not right for everyone. Because it is a hormone, it can have the same types of side effects as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy. Talk to your doctor today about whether Clomid is a good fertility treatment option for you.
