Discovery Health :: Infertility Treatment

Infertility

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Infertility Treatment (cont'd)

While Clomid treatment is generally effective in women who experience abnormal ovulation cycles, it seems to have an adverse effect on endometrial thickness, thereby increasing the likelihood of implantation failure. Recent studies have shown that adding progesterone and estrogen when taking clomiphene citrate significantly increases endometrial thickness, thus improving rates of pregnancy while reducing the likelihood of miscarriage. That is, the hormones appear to counterbalance the negative effects of a Clomid regimen.

Gonadotropin medications. These drugs include:
- Lupron (leuprolide acetate), a synthetic version of the naturally occurring gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), which triggers the release of produces follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) directed at the ovaries. FSH is a hormone critical to egg maturation and development. It triggers the development of the follicles, or eggs, inside the ovary, as well as estrogen production. Lupron is given via injection.
- Synarel (nafarelin acetate) is also a synthetic version of GnRH, but it can be administered via a nasal spray.
- Antagon (ganirelix acetate), and cetrorelix are GnRH antagonists, suppressing the release of certain hormones. They are administered via injection.
These fertility drugs have a 95 percent chance of stimulating ovulation, giving a woman a 15 percent chance of getting pregnant each cycle if she still has viable eggs. Gonadotropins may cause multiple pregnancies, and, in rare cases, hyperstimulation, which can lead to stroke. Common side effects include weight-gain and water-retention.

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