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If you are thinking of using fertility drugs - such as Clomiphene Citrate or Gonadotropin - contact the specialists of IVF New Jersey.
Clomiphene Citrate and Gonadotropins are fertility drugs that may be prescribed to you by the physicians of IVF New Jersey. Each fertility drug has very specific instructions for usage.
Clomiphene Citrate TherapyClomiphene citrate (CC) is an oral fertility drug that is used by IVF New Jersey in the treatment of patients who do not ovulate or who ovulate infrequently. Serophene and Clomid are the two brands of clomiphene citrate manufactured in the USA. There is no difference between these two fertility drugs, although sometimes one or the other can be less expensive. Clomiphene citrate is used in other situations besides ovulatory disorders. In patients for whom there is no known cause for their infertility, clomiphene citrate — in conjunction with intrauterine inseminations (IUI) — has been found to improve the ability to conceive.
Clomiphene citrate plus intrauterine insemination is used at IVF New Jersey when sperm concentration and/or motility is low, or when antisperm antibodies are a factor in infertility. Patients with endometriosis who have not conceived following medical or surgical treatment are candidates for clomiphene citrate. Finally, patients who have abnormal ovulation, that is a “luteal phase defect,” can also be successfully treated with clomiphene citrate therapy at IVF New Jersey.
Clomiphene citrate is administered as a 50 mg tablet. The dosage ranges from one to five tablets per day on days 3 through 7 of the menstrual cycle, (alternatively, clomiphene citrate may be administered on days 5 through 9). Clomiphene citrate stimulates the body to produce increased amounts of the hormone FSH. FSH in turn stimulates the eggs to grow and mature. Typically, two to four eggs will mature when clomiphene citrate is administered. Ovulation will occur in one of two ways: one, a naturally occurring surge of the hormone LH (as detected by the change in color of an ovulation kit); and two, by administration of a fertility drug referred to as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This fertility drug goes by the trade names Ovidrel®, Profasi®, Novarel®, and Pregnyl®, and is administered when we determine that the eggs are mature and ready to ovulate. This is determined by monitoring blood levels of estradiol and the size of the egg sacs by ultrasound. It is well known that ovulation will occur approximately 36 to 40 hours after the injection, and therefore inseminations are timed accordingly.
A typical treatment cycle involves taking two tablets of clomiphene citrate on days 3 through 7 of the menstrual cycle. On day 12, a blood test to measure estradiol and ultrasound measurement of the egg sacs are performed. As stated above, the intrauterine insemination will then take place 36 to 40 hours after hCG is administered. After hCG, the patient will notice a rise in her basal body temperature chart and possibly abdominal bloating and discomfort. This is due to enlargement of the ovaries caused by both clomiphene citrate and hCG administration. One week after hCG, a progesterone level is obtained to check for ovulation and adequate progesterone levels to “support” a pregnancy. At this time, a decision is made to administer progesterone if the level is too low. If the cycle is unsuccessful, menstruation will occur approximately 16 days from the time of the hCG injection. Your physician should be notified if you are three to four days late for the menstrual period so that we may perform a pregnancy test.
Clomiphene citrate acts by actually “deceiving” the body into believing that the estrogen level has been decreased. The side effects caused by clomiphene citrate are mostly the result of these “anti-estrogen” effects. These include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, headaches, and visual disturbances. All of these symptoms may be experienced, and they will stop once you have completed the course of fertility drugs treatment at IVF New Jersey. Should you develop any type of visual disturbance, please inform us and stop taking clomiphene citrate.
A common concern in using clomiphene citrate is the possibility of multiple pregnancies. In approximately 5 percent of pregnancies, there will be more than one fetus. The vast majority of times this will be a twin pregnancy. Another problem is the possible development of large ovarian cysts after hCG is administered. These cysts will typically cause abdominal discomfort and bloating. In rare instances the ovaries will become very enlarged, requiring hospitalization for administration of intravenous fluids and observation. This is a rare event that occurs in less than 1 percent of patients undergoing clomiphene citrate therapy. Typically, these cysts will disappear within two to three weeks, and surgery is rarely if ever required for their removal. When cysts do develop, it is suggested that physical activity be restricted, including withholding coital activity. Finally, it should be noted that clomiphene citrate has not been found to cause an increase in birth defects as compared to patients who conceive naturally.
The success rate with clomiphene citrate therapy depends on the individual patient's clinical problems. For patients who do not ovulate or ovulate infrequently, close to 80 percent will be able to ovulate using clomiphene citrate at IVF New Jersey. The pregnancy rate per fertility drug cycle is approximately 15 percent, and 40 percent of patients will become pregnant within six cycles. These success rates will differ, however, when there are additional factors affecting a couple's fertility. These factors may include endometriosis, cervical factor, luteal phase defect, male factor, and unexplained infertility. Success rates for these patients are approximately 10 percent per fertility drug cycle.
Gonadotropin TherapyGonadotropins are used by the physicians of IVF New Jersey in the treatment of patients who do not ovulate or ovulate infrequently. Most patients who have difficulty ovulating are treated initially with clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene). When clomiphene citrate is unsuccessful, the next regimen is a combination of clomiphene citrate and gonadotropins, or gonadotropins alone.
Gonadotropins are used in other situations besides ovulatory disorders. In patients with no known cause for their infertility, gonadotropins, in conjunction with intrauterine inseminations (IUI), have been found to improve the ability to conceive. Gonadotropins plus IUI is used at IVF New Jersey when sperm concentration and/or motility is low, or when antisperm antibodies are a factor delaying fertility. Patients with poor cervical mucus will benefit by improvement in ovulation. Patients with endometriosis who have not conceived following medical or surgical treatment are also candidates for gonadotropins. Finally, patients who have abnormal ovulation, or “luteal phase defect,” can also be successfully treated with gonadotropin therapy at IVF New Jersey.
These medications are very similar to a brain hormone known as gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH is responsible for the release of the pituitary gonadotropins described above. One of those hormones, LH, is responsible for triggering ovulation. We want to prevent the release of LH and avoid ovulation of the eggs prior to egg retrieval. By administering GnRH-like medications, we can suppress the release of LH and prevent premature ovulation. These fertility drugs are administered subcutaneously.
The choice of a particular gonadotropin or GnRH-like medication depends on many factors. Every patient and fertility drug is unique, and the physicians at IVF New Jersey will recommend a course of therapy that is considered best for you.
There are prerequisites for starting gonadotropin therapy at IVF New Jersey, the most important being that an open and functioning fallopian tube must be present. This can be confirmed by performing a laparoscopy. In addition, sperm must be present in such a quantity as to provide a reasonable chance of obtaining a pregnancy (for example, at least 1 to 3 million motile sperm after being “washed” for intrauterine insemination). These prerequisites are justified because gonadotropin therapy is a demanding experience that involves considerable time and expense. Above all, the medication is quite expensive, with the average treatment cycle costing $700 to $1000 for the fertility drug itself.
Gonadotropins that are prescribed by the specialists of IVF New Jersey can be given by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. After the fertility drug is absorbed into the blood stream, it is carried down to the ovaries, where it stimulates the eggs to develop and mature. Typically, three to eight eggs will mature when gonadotropins are administered, but ovulation of these mature eggs will not occur unless another fertility drug is given, which is referred to as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This medication goes by the trade names Ovidrel®, Profasi®, Novarel®, and Pregnyl®, and is administered when we determine that the eggs are mature and ready to be ovulated. This is determined by monitoring the estrogen blood levels and also the size of the egg sacs by ultrasound. When the estrogens and ultrasound show that two or more egg sacs are properly developed, we administer hCG. It is well known that ovulation will occur approximately 36 to 40 hours after the hCG injection, and therefore inseminations are timed accordingly.
After hCG, the patient will notice a rise in her basal body temperature chart and possibly abdominal bloating and discomfort. This is due to enlargement of the ovaries caused by both gonadotropins and hCG administration. One week after the hCG injection, a progesterone level is obtained to check for ovulation and adequate progesterone levels to “support” a pregnancy. If the cycle is unsuccessful, menstruation will occur approximately 14 days from the time of the hCG injection. Your physician should be notified if you are three to four days late for your menstrual period in order that we perform a pregnancy test.
Gonadotropins have some important side effects. A common concern is the possibility of multiple pregnancies. In approximately 20 percent of pregnancies, there will be more than one fetus. The vast majority of times this will be a twin pregnancy, with triplet pregnancies occurring uncommonly; in rare situations, quadruplets and quintuplets may be present. In addition, there is a greater miscarriage rate with gonadotropins than natural conception (25 percent versus 15 percent per cycle). Another problem is the possible development of large ovarian cysts after hCG is administered. These cysts will typically cause abdominal discomfort and bloating. In rare instances, the ovaries will become very enlarged and will require the patient be hospitalized for the administration of intravenous fluids and observation. This is a rare event which occurs in less than 1 percent of patients undergoing gonadotropin therapy. Typically, these cysts will disappear within two to three weeks and surgery is rarely if ever required for their removal. When these cysts do develop, it is suggested that physical activity be restricted including withholding coital activity. Some additional side effects that may occur include headaches, nausea, breast discomfort, general aches, and mood swings. It should be noted that we have not found an increase in birth defects in “gonadotropin babies” at IVF New Jersey as compared to patients who conceive naturally.
Gonadotropin cycles may be canceled for a variety of reasons. On menstrual cycle day 3, we perform a “baseline” blood estradiol test and ultrasound. If the estradiol level is too high, and/or there are one or more large cysts on the ovaries, we will delay the administration of the fertility drugs at IVF New Jersey until the beginning of the next menstrual cycle. In addition, if gonadotropins are begun and the response to the fertility drug is poor, the cycle will be canceled and restarted after the next menstrual period. Similarly, one can have a good response, but find that after six or seven days of gonadotropins the estradiol levels go down. This is due to either a premature “LH surge” or premature ovulation. In these situations, the eggs have not matured properly so it best to stop the cycle at this time.
The success with gonadotropin therapy depends on the individual patient's clinical problems. For patients who do not ovulate or ovulate infrequently, close to 100 percent will be able to ovulate using gonadotropins. The pregnancy rate per fertility drug cycle is approximately 25 percent, and over 60 percent of patients will become pregnant within five to six cycles. These success rates will differ, however, when there are additional factors affecting a couple's fertility. These factors may include endometriosis, cervical factor, luteal phase defect, male factor, or unexplained infertility. Success rates for these patients will range from approximately 10 percent to 20 percent per gonadotropin treatment cycle.
Long-term Side Effects of Clomiphene Citrate/GonadotropinsThere are no known long-term side effects associated with clomiphene citrate or gonadotropin use at IVF New Jersey or elsewhere. Although these fertility drugs stimulate the release of multiple eggs from the ovary, they do not cause a woman to undergo “premature menopause.” Another point of concern is a possible association with clomiphene citrate/gonadotropins and ovarian cancer. A 1993 study indicated a possible increase in the incidence of ovarian cancer in infertile women who did not conceive and who took fertility drugs. There are a number of drawbacks to this study, including the very small number of patients and the lack of details regarding which fertility drugs were used and their duration of use. This has prompted the authors to indicate that their findings are “by no means certain ... and very tenuous.” They do not recommend that we alter our current practice of prescribing fertility drugs.
We should further point out that a 1987 study failed to find an association with clomiphene citrate/gonadotropins and ovarian cancer. Since 1993, other studies have examined the incidence of ovarian cancer in women who had been treated with fertility drugs. None of these studies has shown a statistically significant increased incidence of ovarian cancer. Disparities such as these indicate that further long-term studies are needed to give us a definite answer to this question. Therefore, until we obtain this information, we ask you to take into account the unlikely possibility of an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer if you are treated with fertility drugs.
It should be noted that infertility alone is a risk factor in ovarian cancer. The lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer in the “average” woman is about 1 to 2 percent and increases to 2 to 3 percent in infertile women. It is important to note that infertile women who become pregnant lower their risk of ovarian cancer.
Summary of the Clomiphene Citrate Treatment Cycle
Summary of the Gonadotropin Treatment CycleAttention:
While taking fertility drugs do not take Advil®, Motrin®, or anything containing ibuprofen (except during menstrual periods).
Reconstitution (Mixing) of Fertility DrugsIMPORTANT: There are several different types of chorionic gonadotropin. Please make sure you check the name on the box to confirm that you are administering correctly.
(Remember: Delestrogen® is given twice weekly, not daily)
Administration of Fertility DrugsIMPORTANT REMINDERS:
If you are have questions about using fertility drugs, including Clomiphene Citrate and Gonadotropin, contact IVF New Jersey. We would be happy to answer any and all questions.