Any factor that occurs in women can interfere with the body’s ability to ovulate effectively.
One of the primary ways to treat this condition is with medications that stimulate the ovarian follicles to produce more than one egg in a cycle.
Clomid is one of the most common drugs used to stimulate ovulation.
Clomid is a drug used to treat female infertility.
It was developed in the 1960s as a potential contraceptive.
However, it has started to be prescribed effectively in a short time due to its ability to increase fertility.
It is a cost-effective treatment method that helps increase the chances of pregnancy and live birth in IVF and other assisted reproductive procedures.
What Will We Learn?
How Does Clomid Work?
The act of releasing an egg from the ovary is the result of a hormone called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) that the brain signals to the ovary for 2 weeks.
When the ovary receives this signal, the egg begins to grow and produce estrogen.
Estrogen returns to the brain and signals a positive outcome of ovulation.
Once the brain receives this confirmation, it stops sending stimulation (FSH) to the ovary.
Clomid works by blocking estrogen in the hypothalamus region of the brain.
This signals the brain that the ovaries are not doing their job, thus sending more stimulation (FSH) to the ovaries.
This factor, which develops several eggs at the same time, usually causes one egg to develop in non-ovulating women.
Who Is Clomid Suitable For?
If pregnancy cannot be achieved due to severe male factor infertility, uterine or tubal factor, the use of Clomid will not have a positive effect.
Clomid can be useful in solving the following problems:
- Irregular ovulation: Irregular ovulation cycles are quite common and make it difficult to conceive. Clomid can be used for predictable ovulation response, planned sexual intercourse and fertilization.
- Unexplained infertility: Effective for increasing the chances of pregnancy among healthy couples who have a normal fertility assessment but still have difficulty conceiving.
- Male fertility issues: Problems with sperm in men make fertilization difficult. Clomid can be used in mild cases of male infertility.
Is Clomid Available Without A Prescription?
A specialist evaluation should always be done before starting any infertility treatment.
It should be ensured that the use of Clomid is the most appropriate treatment option.
Evaluation usually consists of doing a complete medical history, semen analysis, blood tests, and physical exam.
Clomid is only prescribed when all conditions are favorable.
How To Use Clomid?
Women with regular menstrual periods may be started on the drug Clomid to help the ovaries produce more than one mature egg.
If there are no regular menstrual periods, another treatment method can be applied before Clomid to eliminate this problem.
Clomid use starts on the 3rd day of the menstrual period.
Treatment started in the first days of the menstrual period helps the development of more than one mature egg.
Generally, tablets at a dosage of 50 mg should be used twice a day for 5 days.
On day 11 or 12 of the menstrual cycle, ultrasound imaging is done to determine if an ovarian follicle has developed.
Ultrasound helps determine how many mature eggs are formed in the follicles.
For ovulation induction to be successful, 2-3 follicles must be detected at this stage.
When an ovarian follicle matures, the hormone estrogen is produced to help the embryo implant into the uterus and to thicken the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium.
Ultrasound imaging at this stage is done to measure the endometrial tissue and to make sure that Clomid is causing any adverse effects on the endometrium.
They are then asked to use an ovulation predictor kit to test the increase in LH hormone.
If ovulation has begun, the woman is given an injection of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
hCG initiates the development of the corpus luteum, which will help release the egg and help the body produce progesterone.
Ovulation will usually occur 38-44 hours after the hCG injection.
Assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF treatment or vaccination can be applied after this stage.
After ovulation, a form of the hormone progesterone is given to support the endometrial tissue and help the fertilized egg implant in the uterus.
About two weeks after ovulation, a pregnancy test can be taken.
Clomid Use In Men
In men, the use of Clomid increases luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels.
These hormones are important for fertility and are found in both men and women.
LH promotes the release of testosterone in men. FSH, on the other hand, is important in the initial stage of sperm production.
Increasing the level of these hormones in the body also causes an increase in testosterone.
It can lead to more sperm production and increase sperm motility.
Motility refers to how well the sperm moves to fertilize an egg.
However, hormone interactions are complex and the use of Clomid may not show effective results in some men.
In order to avoid negative consequences, the way of use and dosage of the drug should be adjusted appropriately.
Is Clomid Use Risky?
All medical treatments can have some side effects.
While these side effects are quite mild for some women, they can be severe for others.
What Are The Side Effects Of Clomid?
Possible side effects of Clomid are listed below:
- Ovulation pain
- Increased sensitivity in the groin area
- Visual disturbances such as blurred vision, double vision
- Nausea
- Breast tenderness
- Headache
- Vaginal dryness
Clomid can reduce cervical mucus production, which can make it impossible for sperm to reach the egg through the cervix.
To overcome this potential problem, inoculation therapy is recommended.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a serious problem that produces symptoms such as abdominal bloating, nausea and diarrhea.
Clomid promotes the production of multiple eggs and in some cases hyperstimulation may occur.
Symptoms of hyperstimulation begin about a week after ovulation.
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