Fertility Medications

1.  Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid or Serophene) is an oral pill that works by stimulating the body to produce eggs.  This medication is often among the first used for ovulation induction. It may have a few side effects.  Generally there is a 7-8% chance for multiple gestation, most of which are twins.  Your primary care or OB-GYN physician may prescribe this medicine for up to 3 cycles.  If pregnancy does not occur after 3 cycles, we will frequently prescribe gonadotrophins with IUI or IVF.

2.  Gonadotropins are frequently used for ovulation induction during IUI or IVF.  This is a type of injectable fertility drug that directly stimulates the ovaries.  Gonadotrophins such as Bravelle, Follistim and Gonal-F are made from purified follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and cause the ovaries to develop multiple mature eggs.

3.  Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (Menopur) or  hMG contains both follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).  Like the gonadotrophins listed above, hMG is an injectable fertility medication used in ovulation induction for IUI or IVF.

4.  Human Chorionic Gonaotropin or hCG (Ovidrel) is a hormone that has an effect on the body similar to luteinizing hormone (LH), which initiates the final maturation and release of the eggs from the ovary. HCG is often used to trigger ovulation following the use of the other fertility drugs.

5.  Progesterone is an ovarian hormone necessary for the support of the early embryo.  Without it, the uterine lining may not adequately thicken and mature.  Women who undergo egg retrieval for IVF are generally prescribed progesterone supplements, because some of the cells that normally produce progesterone are removed.  We also frequently prescribe progesterone in our IUI cycles or in women with concerns about miscarriage.