Fertilaid Vs. Clomid

There are many fertility supplements and treatments available for women having difficulty conceiving. FertilAid and Clomid are two options that are very different from each other. The official FertilAid website describes FertilAid as an over-the-counter all-natural supplement designed to promote hormonal balance and support fertility in women. Clomid is a prescription medication structurally similar to estrogen. It is designed to treat problems in the ovaries by stimulating the hormones required to create an egg and sustain an early pregnancy, according to Conceiving Concepts.

Availability and Cost

• FertilAid is sold online and at select brick-and-mortar stores, including CVS. As of October, 2009 the cost for a one month supply is $28.95 according to FertilAid's website. This type of supplement is rarely covered by health insurance. Clomid is only available with a prescription, and is usually prescribed after several months of unsuccessful attempts to conceive. The average cost of Clomid is $10 per pill, or about $50 per month according to Duke Health. Clomid may be covered by health insurance.

Ingredients

• FertilAid contains vitamins and herbs such as chasteberry, red clover, Siberian ginseng and gingko biloba. Inactive ingredients are vegetable stearate and rice flower. FertilAid claims to contain no allergens. Each tablet of Clomid contains 50 milligrams of the chemical compound clomiphene citrate, according to RxList. Inactive ingredients include cornstarch, lactose, magnesium stearate and sucrose.

Dosage Timing

• FertilAid for Women can be taken every day of the cycle and doesn't need to be started at any specific time. However, FertilAid's web site states that it can take up to three months for the supplement to reach full effectiveness. Clomid needs to be taken on specific days early in the cycle, usually around the fifth through tenth days. Timing is essential, and ovulation predictor kits or basal body temperature charts may be used for several months prior to starting Clomid to determine ideal day of the cycle to begin taking the medication.

Side Effects

• FertilAid has no known side effects, although women should not take it with Clomid or other fertility drugs unless approved by a doctor. As with all supplements, it is important to inform your doctor of any vitamins or herbs you are taking before starting other medications or if you have a preexisting medical condition. The most common side effects of Clomid are hot flashes, bloating, headaches, nausea and breast tenderness. Clomid also slightly increases the chance of becoming pregnant with more than one baby.

Effectiveness

• FertilAid does not provide actual success rate statistics, but they claim to be the number one selling fertility supplement and provide testimonials on their website. Clomid has a 70 to 90 percent success rate of inducing ovulation within the first three cycles, with about 40 percent of those women actually conceiving during those three months, according to Shared Journey.