What is the best fertility drug to get pregnant?

At times, when women have problems in conceiving a child, the doctors prescribe fertility drugs to them. These fertility drugs induce pregnancy by releasing certain hormones in the body which in turn help in releasing eggs from an ovary. Further, women who wish to get better egg or an extra egg or eggs during ovulation. Even during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) such drugs are used to prevent premature ovulation when Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is used for conceiving a child.

Fertility drugs were first used in the United States in the 1960s and ever since, they have become popular.

Many such drugs are available to facilitate fertility, increase the production of eggs in the body, and some of the most common ones are as under-

• Clomid- When a woman is not ovulating in the natural way, Clomiphene citrate (Clomid) is used. It is an estrogen hormone blocking drug. It stimulates the pituitary gland to cause ovulation. This drug has been used over 40 years now and has more than 80% success rate in women. Women who usually have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS/PCOD) are prescribed to have doses of Clomid. The recommended dosage is that it should be taken for 5 days during the first few days of the menstrual cycle for the six consecutive menstrual cycles.

• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)- It is a hormone injected in the woman’s body to trigger the production of  more eggs by producing more follicles. FCH is available in different brand names like Fostimon, Bemfola, Gonal, Bravelle, etc. This hormone intake has a course of 10 to 12 days which depends upon how much times does it take for the eggs to mature in the woman’s body.

• Letrozole- Letrozole is a fertility drug which is taken orally in order to stimulate the process of ovulation. This medication should be taken in the initial five consecutive days of the monthly menstrual cycle. It is used to activate the brain to produce more of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which in turn will lead to ovulation and release eggs. Letrozole should be consumed when a woman has Polycystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD/PCOS) or in general when she wants to produce more eggs. Letrozole is available under the brand name of Femara.

• Human Menopausal Gonadotropin- Together, the hormones Follicle stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH) comprise of the Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG). This drug is used by females who do have ovaries but have difficulty in production of eggs and ovulate. This drug again helps in production of eggs and helps them to ripen. HMG is injected in the 2nd or 3rd day of the menstrual cycle of the woman and is continued upto seventh or twelfth day for the best results.

Side Effects of Fertility Drugs in Women-

The drugs used for infertility treatment may have some side effects, like any other drug. The intake of fertility pills may lead to multiple births, or cause mood swings, hot flashes, irritability or restlessness in some cases. There may be chances of ectopic pregnancy (when embryo plants outside the uterus, maybe in the fallopian tubes)  also, in case of In vitro fertilization (IVF).