Clomid is a fertility drug prescribed to women to cause an egg to mature and be released from ovaries. 100 mg is administered once daily for 5 days during the menstrual cycle if ovulation doesn’t occur at lower doses. While most women successfully conceive after several months on the drug, the success rate differs according to a number of factors, including the cause of infertility. Due to the way the drug works, it increases the chances of multiple births.
What is Clomid?
Clomid is a drug used to treat ovulatory dysfunction in women, a condition when the normal reproductive cycle is inhibited and the egg is not released by the ovaries. Clomid is prescribed to patients who desire pregnancy and has been proven to be an efficient treatment of infertility in women. The drug provides an increase in production of hormones responsible for the growth and release of an egg.
What are the indications for using Clomid?
This medication is prescribed to patients who are unable to get pregnant through normal means, mostly due to insufficient hormonal stimulation of the ovaries that may occur for various reasons. Clomid has been shown to provide efficient treatment of anovulatory conditions. Clomid therapy is prescribed on a personal basis, after a thorough examination of each patient’s infertility case.
What is the dosage of Clomid?
Clomid tablets contain 50 mg of clomiphene citrate, which is a low daily dose of the drug. The standard course of Clomid therapy takes five days. One 50 mg Clomid tablet is taken daily for the duration of the course and in most cases the ovulation occurs within 10 days after it ends. If such regimen does not prove to be successful, a second course after at least a month’s time is prescribed when two Clomid tablets are taken daily for five days.
What are the contraindications for using Clomid?
These are the following contraindications for Clomid use:
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- Pregnancy
Clomid is a drug from Pregnancy Category X, which means it must never be used by pregnant women. Although no human data prove the danger of the drug to the fetus, animal research shows that the medication increases the rate of fetal loss and development anomalies. Precautions must be taken when going for the second Clomid course to make sure the patient is not pregnant after the first one.
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- Hormonal dysfunction
The drug may have adverse effects for patients with thyroid or adrenal dysfunctions
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- Liver dysfunction
Only patients with no history of liver disease are eligible for Clomid treatment
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- Ovary enlargement
Although the drug can be used by patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome, it is contraindicated in patients with any other forms of ovarian cysts or enlargement.
What are the adverse effects of Clomid?
Ovarian enlargement has been reported after Clomid use in 13% of patients; hot flushes have been reported in 10% of cases. Among the other side effects are the abdominal discomfort, breast discomfort, nausea, and slight visual anomalies.