When a couple was unsuccessful in conceiving a child, physicians would usually tell their patients that there was nothing they could do for them, so couple would struggle eternally with infertility issues, resulting sometimes to marital problems but today, couples facing infertility issues have a lot of options to choose, one of this is utilizing fertility drugs.
But what is the real deal with fertility drug?
Fertility Drugs are medications prescribed by physicians to stimulate reproductive system in order to be fertile and in women, it is applied to stimulate follicle growth of the ovary.
Studies show that the discovery of reproductive hormones; female hormone (estrogen) in 1923, and male hormone (testosterone) in 1935 was the answer to the development of modern fertility treatments. The earliest fertility drugs made obtainable was the Clomid and hMG, then on 1970s and 1980s "test tube babies" were presented so from then on, women of child bearing age struggling of 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.
The success of the fertility drugs depends on the condition of the women and as this fertility drugs are taken until pregnancy is obtained and in that span of time of medication women are closely monitored by their physicians to help determine if fertility has been achieved.
Like any other drugs, fertility drugs come with possible risks and side effects so it is significant 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 entire process of development and maturation.
Another likely risk of using fertility drugs is the high chances of having multiple births and the most immediate risk involved with multiples is premature birth, as well as compromising the mother and babies physical condition, because during pregnancy mothers may experience extreme nausea and vomiting, high risk of pregnancy induced hypertension and gestational diabetes. For the babies it may result to low birth weight, high risk for developmental delays and cerebral palsy.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a state where ovaries becomes distended, filling with fluid, thus causing complications during ovulation is another drawback of using fertility drug.
Lowering Potential Risk of complications:
1. Excellent prenatal care lowers the risk of multiple pregnancy and OHSS because if women's health condition is compromised early treatment can be carried out.
2. Using the lowest amount of fertility drugs as much as possible, will also help lessen the risk.
3. Some fertility clinics are excessively aggressive in treating infertilities, be vigilant in choosing the right one.
4. When monitoring your cycle, be careful and abide by the advice and instructions of your doctor.
Note: Always consult your doctor before taking any Fertility Drugs.