8 Fertility Drugs For Women: When To Use And How They Work

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Fertility drugs for women were first offered in the United States in the early 1960s, and they have since assisted many women in becoming pregnant (1). The majority of fertility tablets increase the chances of conception by stimulating ovulation. In addition to infertility, these prescription-only drugs can be used to treat various medical issues in women.

Knowing the types of medications available is essential for women struggling to conceive. Read this post to learn more about the best fertility pills to get pregnant, including their mechanism and various pros and cons of taking these drugs.

When Do Women Need Fertility Drugs?

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 19% of married women aged between 15 and 49 years who have never given birth experience difficulty conceiving after a year of trying.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explains infertility as a disease of the reproductive system, defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse (2).

Despite the popularity of fertility drugs, the most commonly sought-after fertility service is fertility advice, with 7% of women reporting utilizing it. Fertility testing follows closely with 6%. At the same time, fertility drugs account for about 5% of couples seeking fertility services.

Percentage of couples using various fertility treatments to conceive

Source: Coverage and Use of Fertility Services in the U.S.; Kaiser Family Foundation/National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG)
Fertility drugs are suitable if you have infertility due to any one or more of the following health issues:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) endometriosis and other ovulation problems

• Thyroid disorders

• Eating disorders

• Weight problems – underweight, overweight or following an extreme workout

• Issues with FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) levels

Most of the above conditions cause infrequent or missed ovulation, and your doctor may prescribe medications to address your specific problem (3).

How Do Fertility Drugs For Women Work?

Fertility drugs work by:

• Stimulating ovaries to produce more eggs

• Increasing certain hormonal levels in the body, thereby helping to mature and release more than one egg per cycle. It is known as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (superovulation)

• Preventing premature ovulation during assisted reproductive technologyⁱMedical procedures that help treat male and female infertility. (ART) procedures

Fertility drugs also work in conjunction with assisted conception treatments such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF) (4).

What Are The Best Fertility Drugs For Women?

Almost all fertility drugs help in ovulation, but the right medicine for you depends on what is affecting your ovulation and conception (5).

1. Clomiphene citrate

Clomiphene citrate causes ovulation by stimulating the pituitary gland. It is prescribed for women with PCOS or other ovulation issues. It is also recommended for improving the production of eggs in women with regular ovulation.

• The oral medication should be taken for five days during the initial phase of the menstrual cycle, for up to six menstrual cycles.

• It is found to cause ovulation in 80% of women, of which half were able to get pregnant. Its success rate depends on the age of women and other factors (6).

• The drug may also increase the likelihood of multiple pregnancies (7).

• It is available under the brand names of Clomid, Clomidac, Bemot, Clomifene, etc.

2. Letrozole

Letrozole is also used to stimulate ovulation. The oral medication activates the pituitary glands to make more FSH, to induce ovulation and release eggs. It works for women with PCOS, and in normal women to improve the production of eggs.

• The medication should be taken for five days during the initial phase of the menstrual cycle.

• It may work better than clomiphene in women with PCOS.

• Women resistant to clomiphene citrate demonstrate an increase in the ovulation rate with the use of letrozole (8).

• It is available under the brand name Femara.

3. Human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG)

hMG is a combination of hormones FSH and LH. These hormones mainly stimulate ovaries to produce and ripen eggs. Gonadotropins are useful for women who have healthy ovaries but cannot ovulate (develop-eggs). This usually happens when there are problems with the pituitary gland.

• It is an injectable medicine, usually given subcutaneouslyⁱA method of administering an injection under the skin. (9).

• They are injected two to three days after the periods start, for up to seven to twelve days.

• The drug is available under the brand names Menopur, Pergonal, and Repronex.

4. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

This medication also works like hMG by stimulating the ovaries to produce more follicles and thereby more eggs.

• It is an injectable drug.

• The course of treatment lasts for ten to 12 days, depending on the time it takes for the eggs to mature.

• It is available under the brand names of Gonal-F, Follistim AQ, Fostimon, Bemfola, Puregon, Pergoveris, and Bravelle.

5. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

The injectable medication stimulates the eggs to mature and rupture.

• It is given as the final trigger in ART treatment.

• It is available under the brand names Choragon, Ovitrelle, Ovidrel, Pregnyl, and Profasi.

6. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists

GnRH antagonists are prescribed for women who are treated with the Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) technique, which is used along with IVF (10)

. They work by suppressing the production of FSH and LH, which otherwise stimulate ovaries to release eggs. In this way, GnRH antagonists prevent spontaneous ovulation and allow the eggs to mature only at the time of IVF treatment.

• They are available as injections.

• They are usually combined with IVF treatment.

• Are available under the brand names of Lutrepulse and Factrel.

7. Metformin hydrochloride

Metformin usually helps improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and treats diabetes. However, it can also treat ovulation problems in women with PCOS. This oral medicine restores the balance of estrogen and testosterone levels, which helps the body to ovulate regularly.

• In some cases, metformin is combined with clomiphene.

• The dose and duration of metformin depend on the clinical requirement.

• It is available under the brand name Glucophage.

8. Bromocriptine and Cabergoline (Dopamine antagonists)

These drugs are used to treat abnormal levels of prolactinⁱA hormone secreted by the pituitary gland responsible for milk production in mothers hormone that interfere with ovulation. Pituitary growths, thyroid disease, kidney disease, and antidepressants cause high levels of prolactin, leading to problems with ovulation.

• They are oral medications.

• They are available under the brand names Parlodel and Cycloset (Bromocriptine) and Dostinex (Cabergoline).

Disclaimer: The primary focus of listing these drugs is to help you understand their general usage, interaction, and side effects. The use of trade names is for identification. You should always check with your medical practitioner before using them.

Are There Any Side Effects Of Fertility Drugs In Women?

Like any other medical treatment, fertility drugs also have some side effects, primarily upon long-term usage. The unpleasant effects of some of the fertility pills include (11) (12):

• Mild reactions such as moodiness, anxiety, depression, hot flashes, headaches, restlessness, and irritability.

• Increased chances of multiple pregnancy.

• Higher risks of premature labor are associated with multiple births.

• Ovarian stimulation syndrome, which causes the ovaries to become abnormally large with fluid. The syndrome is associated with stomach pain, swollen stomach, nausea, shortness of breath, edema, and reduced urine.

• Chances of ectopic pregnancy in women who undergo IVF treatments.

Illustration: Fertility Drugs For Women: When To Use And How They Work

Watch this video to learn how to provide fertility drugs to women in the right way. Discover vital information to help you safely address fertility issues.

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