Medication to Increase Fertility

Medication to increase fertility is given to a woman undergoing fertility treatment. Fertility drugs work by inducing ovulation. Doctors also give fertility drugs to control when ovulation occurs for medical procedures.

Types

• Types of fertility medications include clomiphene citrate (brand names Seraphene and Clomid), human menopausal gonadotropin (brand names Pergonal, Humegon and Repronex), follicle stimulating hormone (brand names Follistim, Bravelle and Gonal-F), human chorionic gonadotropin (brand names Ovidrel and Pregnyl) and metformin (brand name Glucophage).

Function

• Medications such as clomiphene citrate block estrogen receptors to induce ovulation. Medications that use human menopausal gonadotropins or follicle stimulating hormones work directly on the ovaries to produce and mature a greater number of eggs. Human chorionic gonadotropins work by releasing matured eggs, and metformin helps to induce ovulation in patients with polycystic ovaries by regulating insulin levels.

Side Effects

• Side effects range depending upon the particular drug. According to the University of California San Fransisco Medical Center, side effects of fertility drugs may include headaches, abdominal pain, hot flashes, nausea, visual problems, ovarian enlargement, fatigue and depression.

Benefits

• The benefits of taking medications to increase fertility are improved chances of conceiving a child for patients with infertility.

Warning

• Pills

  According to the Mayo Clinic, users of fertility medications are at a higher risk of multiple births, low birth weight, possible birth defects and ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome. Fertility drugs should never be used outside of a doctor's guidance.