You've been trying faithfully month after month and no baby yet. Your doctor recommends Clomid, but you've heard stories about fertility drugs causing women to have half a dozen babies at once. Don't worry - you're safe. Clomid, otherwise known as seraphone or clomiphene citrate is a good first line of defense if you need a fertility drug. Used to induce ovulation, Clomid us safe, easy to take and runs about $25 a month. Generally prescribed by an OB/GYN, it is also a relatively safe and low risk medicine.
It stimulates the ovaries to produce an egg and ovulate. The exact mechanism of clomiphene is not well understood, but in women who produce estrogen it increases certain hormones (LH, FSH). This causes the follicle to grow, triggers the LH surge and induces ovulation.
Once you begin your period, you will be instructed to take Clomid on days 3-7 or 5-9. You will usually ovulate 5-8 days after the last pill is taken. However, to time intercourse, you should be charting your temperature or using an ovulation predictor kit. Because Clomid can affect an ovulation predictor kit, if you take Clomid days 3-7 you can begin testing on day 10. If you take it 5-9, you should wait until day 12.
The usual beginning dose is 50 mg, but it can be increased to 200 mg, although that dosage is rare. If Clomid does not work within four to six months, it's time to see a fertility specialist.
Side effects vary, but often include mood swings, hot flashes and headaches. More rare problems include cysts and visual disturbances.
You won't need to worry about finding room for half a dozen babies. Over 90% of Clomid-induced pregnancies result in single deliveries. Less than 10% of Clomid-induced pregnancies result in the delivery of multiples, and nearly all are twins.
