Medications given to treat some problems associated with infertility, associated with an increased risk of multiple births in the pregnancies that occur.
A drug which enhances the ability of an individual to reproduce.
A collection of hormonal or hormone-related medications employed in the treatment of certain types of infertility.
In women, fertility drugs are prescribed when the normal hormone production from the pituitary gland or ovaries disrupts ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary) or thickens the cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to penetrate. One of the drugs used is clomiphene, which can be taken over several months to induce ovulation in women whose pituitary glands do not produce enough hormones for ovulation to occur naturally. If clomiphene treatment is not successful in triggering ovulation, the next step might involve using follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) followed by an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to stimulate the maturation of the egg and induce ovulation.
Close monitoring is essential when administering fertility drugs to prevent the ovaries from being overstimulated. Symptoms of overstimulation may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal swelling, and the formation of large ovarian cysts. This condition can be life-threatening, so it requires careful attention and management during fertility treatment.
In men, fertility drugs are generally less effective, but they may still be utilized when there are issues with abnormal hormone production from the pituitary gland or testes, which affect sperm production. Low sperm production can be treated with gonadotropins (FSH or HCG).