Infertility is the inability to achieve pregnancy after twelve months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. About 85% of infertile couples have identifiable causes. The most common causes of infertility include male factor infertility, ovulatory dysfunction, and tubal disease. However, the remaining 15% of infertile couples have unexplained infertility. Certain Environmental and lifestyle factors, including obesity and smoking, can affect fertility.
If you have difficulty getting pregnant, you may be exploring infertility medications. Healthcare experts in the United States introduced fertility drugs and have helped many women across the world get pregnant. Today’s most common fertility medications may be an option for you or your partner. Find the easy options to treat infertility in this blog.
Fertility medications for women
There are many types of infertility drugs for women are available today. There are more drugs for women than infertility drugs for men. This is because it is quite easier to promote egg production in women than it is to increase sperm production in men. Here are the best infertility drugs for men.
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- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) drugs
FSH is a hormone released in the body. It allows one of the eggs in your ovaries to mature and contributes to forming a follicle around the maturing egg. These key steps prepare to ovulate. Like the FSH produced by your body, the ingestion of oral FSH can also promote ovulation.
FSH is especially given to women whose ovaries work but whose eggs don’t mature regularly. FSH is not given to women with premature ovarian failure. Before getting FSH, you are likely to be treated with a medication called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). FSH is available in several forms in the USA.
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- Urofollitropin lyophilizate
This medication is made from human FSH. It is given via injection. It is injected into the fatty area just under the skin. This medication is only available as the brand-name drug Bravelle.
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- Follitropin alfa lyophilisate
This medication is a recombinant version of FSH. It is also given by subcutaneous injection and is only available under Follistim AQ and Gonal-F.
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- Clomiphene citrate
Clomiphene citrate is categorized under the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) class of medicines. It stimulates your pituitary gland, which makes FSH. These female fertility pills signal the gland to release more FSH. It is often used for women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or other issues with ovulation. This medicine is available in the form of a tablet that you take orally. Clomiphene is one of the most effective fertility medications for PCOS.
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- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
HCG shots are often used with clomiphene or human menopausal gonadotropin(hMG). It should only be given to women with functional ovaries.
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone released naturally in your body. It is secreted early in the pregnancy by certain specialized cells and later by the placenta. HCG is used as fertility shots to get pregnant; they lead to the maturation of an egg and release from the ovary for egg retrieval or intrauterine insemination. HCG is crucial in maintaining high levels of progesterone, which is important for successful pregnancy. It is the same hormone detected by urine and blood pregnancy tests.
HCG is quite similar in structure to luteinizing hormone (LH); when an egg follicle is in the ovary, an HCG shot can cause the egg to mature and be released. These fertility meds can be used as a monotherapy in an ovulation induction cycle, as with intrauterine insemination, or during in vitro fertilization. The HCG shot will cause ovulation approximately 36 hours after receiving it, allowing your healthcare specialist to better time intrauterine insemination or egg retrieval. These ovulation stimulation drugs are available in various brands. You may be prescribed one of the appropriate fertility drugs for women. Depending on the brand, these shots can be given subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
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- Other fertility drugs
Genirelix acetate: it is an injected drug that helps to prevent early ovulation in women who are having fertility procedures. Side effects of the medication include stomach pain, headache, and possibly the loss of your pregnancy.
Cabergoline and Bromocriptine: These are medications given to lower certain hormone levels and minimize the size of a pituitary tumor that may be contributing to ovulation issues. You usually take them really in small doses, but the amount of the medication can be increased if your health care provider advises. Side effects of the medication include upset stomach and dizziness.
Fertility drugs for male
Male fertility drugs can improve sperm count in men with fertility issues. Your health care professional may prescribe an estrogen receptor blocker such as clomiphene, which is effective in women and stimulates the brain’s hypothalamus and pituitary glands. They cause the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) that can increase sperm production.
The fertility medicine for males is taken orally. Your healthcare professional recommends how frequently it should be taken. Men dealing with low testosterone levels may be prescribed HCG to adjust FSH and LH levels and increase sperm production. This medication is injected thrice per week for as long as six months. Your healthcare provider uses regular blood tests to monitor testosterone levels, adjusting the medicine according to the condition. Your healthcare professional may teach you how to administer the medicine at home.
