Clomid for Getting Pregnant: Effectiveness, Side Effects & Success Rates
Learn how Clomid works for fertility treatment, its success rates, side effects, and who benefits most from this trusted ovulation medication.
The fertility drug Clomiphene Citrate, widely known by the name Clomid, is an oral fertility medication that’s been around for nearly 60 years. It’s one of the most widely-trusted fertility medications with a proven track record. However, it’s not for everyone, and depending on your diagnosis, Clomid may not be the right first step in treating your infertility.
Here we look at how Clomid works and which patients benefit most from including Clomid in their fertility treatment, as well as what you need to know before beginning a Clomid regimen.
How Does Clomid Work?
Clomid aids in conception by blocking your body’s estrogen production. In doing so, it stimulates your hypothalamus and pituitary glands. They begin producing three hormones: gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone.
These three hormones are necessary for ovulation. By taking Clomid, your eggs mature faster, and ovulation occurs.
Are There Side Effects?
One of the major reasons doctors may prescribe Clomid as a first-line fertility treatment is because of the drug’s very mild side effects. The most common side effects are:
- Breast swelling and tenderness
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Abdominal discomfort and mild cramping
- Hot flashes
- Mood changes such as irritability and anxiety
Rarely, some women experience changes in vision, vaginal bleeding, or spotting, ovarian cysts, and ovarian swelling, which can lead to ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS), a rare and painful complication that requires immediate attention from your physician.
How Long Does it Take to Conceive With Clomid?
The results aren’t always immediate, and most patients require more than one cycle of Clomid. However, overall, the success rate is very high. Of course, your diagnosis and the cause of your ovulation-related infertility weigh heavily on your success. But as a first-line treatment, the odds for ovulation and conception are great.
While every diagnosis is unique, in some studies, women taking clomid ovulate about 80% of the time. Nearly half of those women conceive within three cycles (three months) of starting the medication. Age does have an impact on success, as women under 35 often have a higher quantity of viable eggs, but those over 35 also experience success on Clomid.
It’s important to note that Clomid works to facilitate ovulation. If your diagnosis isn’t ovulatory-related, Clomid won’t help. For those diagnosed with lesions in the pelvic region that impair fertility, scar tissue from prior surgeries or infections, premature ovarian failure, fallopian tube issues, or uterine abnormalities, your doctor won’t prescribe Clomid.
Will I Benefit From Clomid?
It’s difficult to know exactly who benefits from this popular and fairly reliable fertility medication without first undergoing thorough testing and diagnosis. However, doctors see clomid as a successful treatment for the following fertility issues:
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Irregular menstrual cycles mean you aren’t always ovulating regularly. Anyone with a basic grasp of reproduction knows that if you don’t produce an egg, you will not conceive. Depending on your diagnosis, Clomid helps trigger ovulation, which in turn helps in conception. Because Clomid helps your menstrual cycle become regular, you know approximately when you ovulate, and you and your partner can have intercourse for that optimal time frame.
Male Factor Infertility
You and your doctor may conclude that IUI is the best treatment for male factor infertility, where tests show low sperm count or low motility (movement). Clomid helps improve the timing of IUI and increases the number of viable eggs for fertilization.
Unexplained Infertility
Even with LA IVF’s state-of-the-art advanced testing, sometimes there’s no discernible cause for your infertility. Doctors call this unexplained infertility. In these rare cases, Clomid helps by causing what’s known as super ovulation, or releasing multiple eggs at one time, providing more eggs for fertilization, effectively doubling your opportunity for conception. As you may surmise, this also increases your odds for twins, up to 10% per cycle.
There Are Risks
In addition to the above-mentioned side effects, as with any medication, there are risks with taking Clomid. Your doctor performs a thorough examination, assessing your reproductive organs and discussing your history before ever prescribing Clomid. However, if you have a history of liver disease, ovarian cysts, abnormal uterine bleeding, uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal gland disorders, pituitary gland tumors, are breastfeeding, or if you have any allergies to any of the ingredients in Clomid, we’ll find another way to help you.
First, Let’s Talk
Before you begin taking Clomid for infertility, please schedule a thorough exam and testing with a fertility specialist. At LA IVF, we get the answers you need, and together we find the best path for you toward your dream of growing your family. For more information on Clomid or other fertility treatments, please request a consultation today, and let’s begin your journey of a lifetime.
