Clomid (clomiphene) has been used to help women struggling with infertility issues to have children. The drug boasts a reliable success rate with the release of mature eggs in roughly 80% of all women. Unfortunately, only 10% to 13% will get pregnant per cycle, which makes it a solution that works but still may not work for all women. Don’t think of it as an infertility cure-all.
Research shows that the odds of conceiving per Clomid treatment cycle sits at 5.6% to 20%. How effective this drug is will depend on the reasons behind the infertility. While this number may not look promising, women should keep in mind that those without fertility problems have a 25% chance of getting pregnant in any given month.
An estimated 7 out of 10 patients who take Clomid will ovulate, and 4 out of 10 patients will conceive. Most women will ovulate within the first 3 months of treatment. Doctors will check to see if you are ovulating at the end of 6 cycles, and if so, they will seek other methods of ovulation induction.
While the FDA approved Clomid for women struggling with fertility issues, men will occasionally have it prescribed to them in the off-label form. They do this because Clomid can help men with fertility, testosterone, and sperm count. However, studies reveal mixed results when it comes to effectiveness in using it for men.
Ovulation normally occurs 5 to 10 days after a course of clomiphene citrate. You should time your sexual activity with the expected ovulation. Treatment usually involves 50 mg in 1 tablet administered every day over the course of 5 days. You should only increase the dosage if not ovulating in response to the 50 mg tablet, but this should only happen at the careful guidance of your doctor.
Many times, doctors will recommend a low dosage in response to unusual sensitivity to pituitary gonadotropin. This condition is often seen in patients suffering from polycystic ovary sydrome. When ovulation makes no appearance in the first course of therapy, the doctor will usually up the dosage to 100 mg daily in a single tablet or in 2 tablets over the course of 5 days.
Most patients who ovulate will do so after the first therapy. If the patient doesn’t ovulate after the third treatment, they do not recommend taking further treatments. Instead, they will reevaluate the patient.
You may encounter a number of side effects when taking Clomid that include:
Tell your doctor if you notice that the symptoms seem to be worsening.
Clomid does occasionally produce serious side effects, but luckily, they remain relatively rare.
Tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
Many doctors won’t prescribe Clomid over the long term because some research suggests an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Using it for about 6 cycles is the most recommended. Speak with your doctor about the risks of taking Clomid.
Keep this medication far out of reach of children in a tightly enclosed container. Store it in a place away from too much heat and moisture. Don’t store this drug in the bathroom medicine cabinet. Use lock safety caps and keep the drug out of sight and out of reach to prevent children from getting drug poisoning.
Clomid is one of many options available to help women (and men) with infertility problems. You should explore your options with your doctor to learn what would work best for you. In many cases, women who take Clomid will have an increased rate of twins from 5% to 12%. Clomid has also been used for infertile males, but studies remain inconclusive how effective it is.
Can Clomid Get You Pregnant Fast?
Clomid is not a cure-all when it comes to infertility, but it can raise your fertility rate and increase your chances especially for couples struggling to have a child. The effectiveness of Clomid will depend on the reason why someone is struggling to get pregnant. For those who have tried to get pregnant for 6 months to 1 year, they may be recommended Clomid.
What Does Clomid Do to You?
When you take Clomid, it stimulates hormone growth that will release a mature egg, also referred to as ovulation. They don’t recommend that you use Clomid if your ovaries no longer produce eggs correctly since it won’t have the right effect.
Does Clomid Work for PCOS?
Taking Clomid drastically improves your chances of clinical pregnancy for women who have PCOS. Women with PCOS who take Clomid have cumulative pregnancy rates that hover pretty close to women who don’t have PCOS.
What are the Signs That Clomid is Working?
Those who take Clomid and experience their period after 27 to 30 days could say that the medication has worked as it should. While ovulating, you should continue to have sexual intercourse with your partner taking the medication. The biggest sign that Clomid is working is that it causes the female to ovulate.
