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Fertility Drugs and Cancer Risk

Many women undergoing treatment for infertility are given fertility drugs when they are trying to conceive. Two of the most commonly used fertility drugs are Clomid and injections of a class of drugs known as gonadotropin releasing hormones. These contain follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) to induce ovulation. I took both of these drugs during the six years we were trying to conceive our first child, who is now ten years old. Women continue to take both classes of drugs today. For years, there have been whispers about a link between certain cancers and fertility drugs. These … Continue reading →

Fertility Drugs: Metaformin

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately seven percent of women. Women with PCOS tend to have numerous small cysts in the ovaries, irregular or absent menstrual cycles and high levels of male hormones, known as androgens. This is responsible for the excessive hair growth experienced by many women with PCOS. Women with PCOS typically have difficulty in conceiving. Traditionally, drugs such as Clomid or injections of gonadotropins have been used to induce ovulation in women with PCOS. A newer medication used to treat this condition is metaformin. Metaformin is a medicine that has been used for years to help control … Continue reading →

Fertility Drugs and Your Emotions

One of the biggest side effects of taking fertility drugs is the emotional aspect. Women taking fertility drugs often report mood swings as severe as those experienced during pregnancy. This takes a toll on the woman and her partner. It should come as no surprise that fertility drugs cause mood swings. Remember that all fertility drugs change the hormone levels in the body, specifically estrogen. This change in hormone levels is responsible for the ups and downs of your mood. Some women find the intensity of the mood swings surprising. They tend to come on suddenly and can be provoked … Continue reading →

Fertility Drugs: Femara

The fertility drug Femara is also known as Letrozole. Originally used in the treatment of breast cancer, the drug was found to be effective for infertility. Initial studies show Femara is more effective than the very popular Clomid. Femara and Clomid have similar results, but work differently. Clomid works by blocking estrogen receptors. Femara works as a aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase is an enzyme which results in the production of estrogen. By blocking this enzyme, estrogen levels are decreased. Both drugs have similar side effects, resulting from the lower estrogen levels when taking either drug. The most common side effects on … Continue reading →

Aspirin and Infertility

In some cases, women are advised to take aspirin when they are trying to conceive. You may have heard of someone taking aspirin or maybe you have been advised to begin taking aspirin and are wondering if it an effective treatment. There are studies to suggest that taking aspirin in conjunction with other medications can increase the pregnancy rate. The aspirin increases the blood flow to the uterus. This allows the body to release more eggs and creates a better environment for the embryo to implant. In addition, aspirin has been found to be an effective treatment for women experiencing … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Review for Feb 25 – March 14

The pregnancy blog covers all topics related to conception, pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum time after the baby arrives. The blog review is a good place to view the recently covered topics. You can also browse by category on the right side of the page. Gestational diabetes affects about five percent of all pregnant women. The glucose test done in the second trimester screens for this condition. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will have to learn to manage the condition and monitor your blood sugar levels. Learn more in Managing Gestational Diabetes. If you have not … Continue reading →

Fertility Medications: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

If your doctor prescribes fertility medications, you may be given human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This medication is not used alone for the treatment of infertility. HCG is used in the same cycle as other fertility medication injections, such as gonadotropins. Human chorionic gonadotropin is given after you have completed the series of injections. HCG is used to help induce ovulation. It works by communicating with the ovaries to release the eggs that have matured. The gonadotropin injections taken earlier in the cycle work by encouraging the ovaries to produce eggs. This mimics the surge of follicle stimulating hormone released by … Continue reading →

Mixing and Injecting Fertility Medications

If you are trying to conceive, your doctor may prescribe injections of fertility medications. These medications are also used in conjunction with infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. The drugs work by stimulating the ovaries to produce more follicles. The injections are given at home for seven to ten days, depending on how your body responds to the treatment. In most cases, the woman’s partner gives the injections. Your doctor will bring you and your partner into the office to teach you both the proper procedure. It is very normal for husbands or partners to feel … Continue reading →

Infertility Medications: Progesterone Therapy

A variety of treatment options are available for infertility, depending on the nature of the problem. Progesterone therapy is one treatment which may be used if your body is not producing enough progesterone to support a pregnancy. Progesterone is naturally released by the corpus luteum after ovulation has occurred. Progesterone increases the thickness of the endometrial lining, creating the optimum environment for the fertilized egg to implant and begin to grow. In some cases, not enough progesterone is released by the corpus luteum. As a result, the lining of the uterus doesn’t get thick enough for the egg to implant. … Continue reading →

Affording Fertility Medications

Fertility medications are expensive, especially the injectibles. A prescription for pills such as Clomid will cost about $50 per cycle. If this doesn’t work, your doctor will probably recommend one of the injectable medications. These are really expensive. For one cycle, the cost is approximately $2,000 per cycle. For many couples, the high cost of fertility medications is not in the budget. As the economy worsens, couples are finding it even more difficult to afford the treatments and the cost of the drugs needed for the treatments to work. The first step in affording fertility medications is to check with … Continue reading →