Ovulation Induction (“Fertility Drugs”)

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At Advanced Fertility Care, almost all IUI treatment cycles are done in conjunction with fertility drugs called ovulation induction medication. These medications are utilized in many situations and, in general, help a women to ovulate more than one egg and usually better quality eggs. There are 2 types of these drugs:

• Oral (Clomiphene Citrate, Clomid®, Serophene®): oral tablets which function as estrogen antagonists (i.e. compete with estrogen for receptor sites). Use of this medication can lead to monthly ovulation for those women who normally do not ovulate on their own, ovulation of more than one egg for those women who do ovulate on their own, and better synchronization of the uterine lining.
  • Note about the use of Letrizole (Femara®): We are often asked about the use of another oral medication (letrizole or Femara®) which works similarly to Clomid and was originally manufactured for the use in breast cancer patients. Many Ob/Gyn practitioners and some fertility specialists have chosen to prescribe this medication rather than Clomid due to reports of fewer side effects. While it is Dr. Zoneraich’s belief that Femara® is an excellent medication, a scientific study which was performed in Canada several years ago concluded that the use of Femara® while trying to achieve pregnancy may result in an increased incidence of congenital anomalies (birth defects) in the fetus. Accordingly, the manufacturer of Femara® issued a statement to all fertility specialists across the world that the use of the medication Femara® is contraindicated when trying to conceive a pregnancy. Unfortunately, due to mainly medical-legal reasons, until the manufacturer of the drug Femara retracts its warning statement, most fertility specialists like Dr. Zoneraich will not use the medication for the treatment of infertility.
• Injectable (Follistim®, Gonal-F®, Menopur®, Bravelle®): highly purified preparations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and/or luteinizing hormone (LH) which are taken as subcutaneous or intramuscular injections. These medications provide for a much more potent stimulation than the oral ovulation medications, and as such require much more frequent monitoring.

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