Women who are infertile and don’t produce eggs seek out a variety of treatments. The most effective medications are the ones that help regulate ovulation. These medications work like natural hormones in order to trigger ovulation. In addition to helping with ovulation, fertility drugs are also believed to help protect women against cervical cancer. Some of the most well-known drugs include: Human Menopausal Gonadotropins (HMG’s), Clomiphene, Bromocriptine, and Aromatase inhibitors. Some women also seek alternative solutions, such as herbs, vitamins, and chiropractic.
• The Human Menopausal Gonadotrophins, aka HMG, is a drug injected into women who are infertile due to the failure of their pituitary glands to trigger ovulation. In other words, HMG works by directly simulating the ovaries. This medication can work for women who have cervical problems and unexplained fertility problems. A woman on HMG is required to be monitored regularly with ultrasounds so that the doctor can check on the progress of the eggs being released.
• Another useful drug is Clomiphene, which works by triggering a release of Follicle Stimulating Hormones (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormones (LH). This helps to increase egg growth and is considered to be very safe. Clomiphene is a lot less risky than most other fertility drugs. It’s particularly helpful and beneficial for women who have irregular menstrual cycles and/or a polycystic ovary syndrome. It is taken orally and has a success rate of about 60%.
• Next is Bromocriptine. This medicine helps by suppressing prolactin, which is a hormone that can stop ovulation if released in large amounts. In some women, prolactin is released in elevated levels, and causes an irregular ovulation cycle as a result. Bromocriptine is considered safe for the most part, although there are some side effects such as headaches and nausea. The good news is that it is one of the most effective fertility medications, as 90% of women release eggs while on it.
• A newer treatment involves Aromatase inhibitors. Ordinarily used for the treatment of breast cancer, these are now also being used for inducing ovulation. This class of drugs include Femara (letrozole tablets) and Arimidex (anastrozole). Letrozole tablets are NOT approved by the FDA as an infertility treatment, but some doctors prescribe it to infertile women anyway.
It’s believed by some that Aromatase inhibitors can suppress estrogen levels, which results in the hormones that trigger ovulation. There are debates as to whether this is a helpful treatment or not, so for the time being women should consider a healthier and safer option.
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