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What Kind of Fertility Drugs Are There?

Fertility drugs have allowed many people who previously were unable to have children to conceive a child or children. A number of these drugs can result in multiple fertilizations and births. In many cases, fertility doctors will try basic fertility drugs and then move to other drugs.

  1. Clomid

    • Clomid is often the first fertility drug used to induce regular ovulation. Clomid works to trick the brain into producing more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which helps to ensure regular ovulation. The goal of taking Clomid is to induce regular ovulation rather than producing a large number of eggs.

    Femera

    • Although not initially designed to treat infertility, Femera has proven to be effective in helping to facilitate regular ovulation. Femara has been used to treat women with breast cancer; the effects on ovulation were a secondary effect.

    Follistim

    • Follistim is a fertility drug that mimics FSH in the body. This results in the production of more eggs, and thus a greater probability of fertilization. Follistim is a purely synthetic hormone that is created using recombinant DNA technology.

    Bravelle

    • Bravelle is another recombinant DNA-produced FSH product. This hormone stimulates the follicles that produce eggs, which results in more eggs and a higher probability of fertilization.

    Ovidrel

    • Ovidrel is another drug produced using recombinant DNA. In the case of Ovidrel, chorionic gonadotropin is produced instead of FSH. This chorionic gonadotropin helps the egg-producing follicles mature and produce more healthy eggs, thus improving the chances of fertilization. Ovidrel has been closely associated with many instances of multiple births.

    Antagon

    • Antagon, often sold as Lupron, is used to reduce estrogen and FSH to allow the follicles to mature more slowly, thus producing a more healthy egg. Antagon is usually taken around seven days before ovulation. Ovulation is then induced.

    Pergonal

    • Pergonal is a type of gonadotropin. Gonadotropins contain multiple hormones that stimulate egg production, thus increasing the probability of fertilization. Gonadotropins have been linked to multiple births.

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