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Everything You Need to Know About Clomid

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Prescribed for more than 40 years, Clomid — generic name clomiphene — is one of the most popular fertility drugs on the market. It helps women who fail to ovulate due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or other reasons. It can also stimulate the development of extra follicles in the ovaries of women who already do ovulate, making more eggs available for fertilization and increasing your chances of getting pregnant.

If you’re considering Clomid as an answer to your fertility issues, read on to learn more and see if it’s right for you.

How does Clomid work?

Clomid blocks estrogen production so your hypothalamus and pituitary glands can release gonadotropin-releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. As a result of this hormone release, your ovaries make eggs that can then be fertilized with insemination or during intercourse.

Is it effective?

Clomid has persisted for so many years because it’s quite effective in helping a woman get pregnant. Sixty to 80% of women who take Clomid do ovulate, with half of those women achieving pregnancy.

At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we usually have you take at least three cycles of Clomid to achieve pregnancy. If that doesn’t succeed, we may add other medications or move on to other treatments to complement or replace Clomid to treat your infertility.

Who is Clomid for?

Clomid is successful for women who suffer from anovulation, which means they don’t release eggs at all, or don’t release them on a predictable cycle. If you have PCOS, Clomid is often the first step in treating your infertility.

If you have another cause of irregular ovulation — even if it’s unexplained — you may take Clomid to stimulate a more predictable ovulation schedule, so you can time intercourse or intrauterine insemination.

You may have normal ovulation schedules, but if your partner’s sperm has a problem, you may take Clomid to increase the number of eggs you produce and improve timing of artificial insemination.

Sometimes a woman and her partner have normal fertility evaluations, but are still unable to get pregnant. Clomid is effective in increasing pregnancy rates in healthy couples with such unexplained issues.

Clomid may also be prescribed along with ART, or assisted reproductive techniques. It becomes one part of an entire treatment plan.

How do you take it?

Typically, you start Clomid around the start of your menstrual cycle, between the third and fifth day after your period begins. Clomid should induce ovulation in about seven days after you’ve taken the final dose.

The staff at California Center for Reproductive Health monitors your ovaries to look for follicle and egg development using ultrasound, so we can assess the best time to schedule insemination or intercourse.

Once you find the dosage that stimulates ovulation, you’ll continue to take Clomid for about six months — unless you get pregnant before then. After that, we move on to other fertility treatments to help you build a family.

What are the side effects?

Side effects are usually not serious. Clomid may make you feel bloated or nauseous, or cause headaches. Some women experience hot flashes and blurred vision.

Using Clomid does raise the risk you’ll have multiple births due to the stimulation of your ovaries.

At California Center for Reproductive Health, we always review your medical history before prescribing Clomid. Women who have large ovarian cysts or liver disease should not take the drug.

If you’re seeking fertility treatment and want to discuss Clomid or other therapies, call our office or schedule a consultation using the online booking tool.

See Dr. Mor’s Publications

Eliran Mor, MD

Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA
Reproductive Endocrinologist located in Encino, Valencia & West Hollywood, CA Doctor Mor received his medical degree from Tel Aviv University-Sackler School of Medicine in Israel. He completed a four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Subsequently, Dr. Mor completed a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility […]
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FAQ

What does a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist do?

Reproductive endocrinology and Infertility is a sub-specialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to managing medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the female reproductive tract, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility (REI) specialists undergo additional years of training to provide fertility treatments using assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as in vitro fertilization.

Reproductive endocrinologists receive board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

When should I see an REI specialist?

In general, patients should consider consulting with an REI specialist after one year of trying unsuccessfully to achieve pregnancy. The chance of conceiving every month is around 20%, therefore after a full year of trying approximately 15% of couples will still not have achieved a pregnancy.

However, if a woman is over the age of 35 it would be reasonable to see a fertility specialist earlier, typically after 6 months of trying.

Other candidates to seek earlier treatment are women who have irregular menses, endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), women who have had 2 or more miscarriages, or problems with the fallopian tubes (prior ectopic pregnancy).

What are the reasons we are having trouble conceiving?

Approximately 1/3 of the time cause for infertility is a female factor, 1/3 of the time a male factor, and the remaining 1/3 a couples’ factor.

At CCRH, we emphasize the importance of establishing a correct diagnosis. Both partners undergo a comprehensive evaluation including a medical history and physical exam.

Furthremore, the woman’s ovarian reserve is assessed with a pelvic ultrasound and a hormonal profile. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) will confirm fallopian tube patency and the uterine cavity is free of intracavitary lesions. A semen analysis is also obtained to evaluate for concentration, motility, and morphology of the sperm.

Additional work up is then individualized to direct the best possible treatment option for each couple.

What is IVF? What is the process like?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the process that involves fertilization of an egg outside of a woman’s body.

The process starts with fertility drugs prescribed to help stimulate egg development. In your natural cycle, your body is only able to grow one dominant egg, but with stimulation medication we can recruit multiple eggs to continue to grow. After about 8-10 days of stimulation, the eggs are surgically retrieved and then fertilized with sperm in a specialized laboratory. Fertilized eggs are then cultured under a strictly controlled environment within specialized incubators in the IVF laboratory for 3-5 days while they develop as embryos. Finally, embryos (or an embryo) are transferred into the uterine cavity for implantation.

Should I have IVF?

Before deciding if IVF is the right choice, it’s important to sit down with an REI specialist to discuss available treatment options. For some people, other methods such as fertility drugs, intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be the best first choice treatment. At CCRH, we believe each individual couple is unique and not everyone needs IVF.

Is the IVF procedure painful?

While not painful, the fertility medications may some side effects including headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, and bloating. The injection sites may also bruise.

Will IVF guarantee a baby?

Unfortunately, no. Many people think once they start IVF it’s a matter of time that they will be pregnant and have a baby. But according to national statistics per the Society of Assisted Reproduction (SART), on average 40% of assisted reproduction cycles achieve live births in women under age 35. The chances of success then continue to decrease with advancing age.

At CCRH, we employ only evidence-based interventions to ensure patient safety and optimal outcome. While we cannot guarantee a baby, we guarantee that you will receive the best, most advanced, personalized care to help you maximize your chance of a baby.

What is the success rate for IVF?

The average IVF success rate (success measured in live birth rate) using one’s own eggs begins to drop around age 35 and then rapidly after age 40. This is due to the decline in egg quantity and egg quality as a woman ages.

Our clinic’s success rate consistently beats the national average year after year.

Do insurance plans cover infertility treatment? How much does IVF cost?

Individual insurance plans often do not have any coverage for infertility treatments. If you have a group plan, you can call members services to see if they have coverage for infertility (including consultation/workup and IVF).

After your consultation with our REI specialist, one of our dedicated account managers with sit with you to go over the cost of treatment.

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