Some women get pregnant at the drop of a hat, (or, um, pants!), while others may wait several months or longer for an egg to connect successfully with sperm. And a full quarter of women have trouble conceiving thanks to ovulation issues, which can cause too few — or no — eggs to be made. Or the ones that are released aren’t of good enough quality, which means fertilization is an uphill battle.
Fortunately for these women, fertility medications can goose ovulation to create more or better eggs, and one of these drugs is Clomid. Find out whether Clomid is right for you, and learn the side effects and risks of taking it below.
What is Clomid?
Clomid (or as a generic drug, clomiphene citrate) is an fertility medication that comes in a tablet and works to rebalance your hormones. When you take Clomid, your body makes more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Together, these encourage follicles in your ovaries to develop and that helps your eggs grow.
If your doctor feels Clomid is right for you, you’ll likely start with a dose of 50 milligrams (mg) per day. This dosage can increase by increments of 50 mg if you don’t become pregnant after the first round up to as much as 250 mg. If you still don’t conceive, up to four treatment cycles of Clomid can be repeated.
Along the way, your doctor will check how your ovulation is progressing via blood tests and ultrasounds. The goal? Connecting your egg with that sperm, either with sex or intrauterine insemination (IUI). If you’re still trying to conceive after six months on Clomid, you may need other fertility help, such as hormone shots or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Who is a good candidate for Clomid?
If your menstrual cycle has been deemed wonky in some way (no eggs, too few eggs or eggs not quite up to snuff), you’re under 35 and you’ve been trying to conceive for more than a year, you could be a good candidate for Clomid. Before you’re given this ovulation enhancer, speak with your doctor about any allergies you have or other medications you take.
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As for who should not take Clomid, there are a number of factors that play into this decision, especially if you have one of the following medical conditions:
- Fibroids or ovarian cysts. Clomid may cause fibroids or cysts to increase in size.
- Inflamed veins or liver disease. This drug may aggravate both of these conditions.
- Depression. The same hormonal changes that affect endometriosis can also negatively impact existing mental depression.
What is the success rate of Clomid?
Clomid’s success rate is rather high. Women who are prescribed this medication for an irregular menstrual cycle have an 80 percent chance of ovulating usually within the first three months of taking it. Another study put the chances of ovulation slightly lower, at about 73 percent, with a pregnancy rate of 36 percent.
Your own rate of conception may vary, of course, and success is often linked to a woman’s age. As mentioned, the starting Clomid dosage is 50 mg, though it can increase up to 250 mg a day. The same study found that 46 percent of women ovulated when given 50 mg of Clomid a day, while another 21 percent ovulated on 100 mg and a few more (8 percent) when the dose was 150 mg.
When should you take Clomid?
Stick to your doctor’s prescription when it comes to taking Clomid. Your starter dose of 50 mg per day is given for five days and usually begins on day five of your menstrual cycle. But if you don’t have a regular cycle (or any cycles), you can take the medicine at any point.
As mentioned, your physician will monitor if and when ovulation takes place. You can track your own menstrual cycle (yup, there are apps for that!) or pick up an ovulation-predictor kit, which is an at-home urine test, to detect your most fertile moment.
What are the risks and side effects of Clomid?
Clomid side effects are generally mild compared to other fertility drugs and they often subside as soon as you stop taking the medication. The more common side effects include:
- Bloating
- Stomach or pelvic pain
- Hot flashes
- Headache
- Mood swings
- Vaginal dryness
Less common side effects include changes in vision and a yellowing of the eyes or skin. Check with your health care provider if you notice these symptoms or if you have breast pain, nausea, vomiting, feelings of depression, heavy menstrual periods, restlessness or trouble sleeping.
Before taking this medication, women should also know that one of the Clomid side effects is an increased chance of becoming pregnant with twins. In fact, the chance of twins is 5 to 8 percent — a good bit higher than the natural twin rate of 1 percent. That’s because taking Clomid increases the odds that more than one egg will be released per cycle.
Other potential effects include a thinning of the uterine lining and a drop in cervical mucus production.
Does insurance pay for Clomid?
If you’re wondering how much Clomid costs, you’ll be pleased to hear that it’s among the more affordable fertility treatments — and it’s a medication your OB/GYN can prescribe. Here’s more about Clomid’s cost and availability:
Availability
You can pick up Clomid — a prescribed oral tablet — at your local drug store, which means it’s easy to obtain and you can avoid hormone shots.
Cost
Without insurance, Clomid pills typically cost about $100. You’ll also need to shell out for blood tests, monitoring and ultrasounds, which adds to the price. All in, you might pay between $500 to $2,000 per month for Clomid out of pocket.
Insurance
Fortunately, most insurance plans usually cover the costs of Clomid, including the pills, extra doctor visits and tests. But since every plan is different, make a call to your provider to find out what type of coverage you can expect.
Keep your chin up when it comes to facing ovulation-related infertility. This challenge is pretty common among women and, luckily, Clomid is an option if you’re the right age. Ask your OB/GYN about this medication that can kickstart your ovaries and get those eggs rolling.
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