Fertility drug therapies

Drug therapies are often used to treat infertility caused by ovulatory disorders.

Taken for five days at the beginning of a menstrual cycle, clomiphene citrate is an oral medication that signals the pituitary gland to produce more follicle stimulating hormone (FSH); approximately 80% of patients will ovulate using this medication, and 50% of those will conceive.

Common side effects include headaches, blurred vision, insomnia, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes.

For more severe ovulation problems, gonadotropins are injectable medications that contain FSH and lutinizing hormone that will directly stimulate egg production.

Side effects may include abdominal discomfort, bloating, and mood swings.