Success Rates of Clomid and Fertility Shots

About Infertility

Before you consider using medical treatments to help you conceive, it is important to have a clear understanding of your fertility.

Generally, a couple is considered to be infertile if they have been unable to conceive after one year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. However, there are two types of infertility:

• A diagnosis of primary infertility means that neither partner has previously achieved a pregnancy.
• A diagnosis of secondary infertility means that a pregnancy has previously been achieved, but the couple is having trouble conceiving a second child.

Infertility is more common than you might think. In fact, research estimates that about 20 percent of couples suffer from some sort of fertility issue.

About Clomid

Clomid, also known as clomiphine citrate, is an oral fertility medication frequently used to treat women who have fertility issues caused by ovulation problems. Clomid helps a woman conceive by stimulating the ovaries to produce additional eggs and follicles. However, the drug is not effective when used in women suffering from fertility issues caused by blocked fallopian tubes.

Potential side effects of Clomid include mood swings, dizziness, nausea, and breast tenderness. Clomid is usually taken for a less than one year, since prolonged use of the drug is thought to cause a slight increase in the risk of ovarian cancer.

Clomid remains a very popular fertility drug because it is one of the most successful and most affordable medications for women who are hoping to conceive. Consider the following statistics:

• Approximately 80 percent of women taking Clomid will ovulate within the first three menstrual cycles.
• Research shows that about 40 percent of women using Clomid are able to conceive within the first three cycles. About 50 percent of women are able to conceive within six months of use.
• The live birth rate for women using Clomid is thought to be between 30 and 60 percent.
• Clomid is believed to increase a woman’s chance of having twins by about 10 percent.

About Fertility Shots

Fertility shots are injectable drugs often referred to as gonadotropins. Popular brands of fertility shots include:

• Fertinex
• Follistim
• Gonal F
• Menogon
• Novarel
• Ovidrel
• Pregnyl
• Profasi
• Puregon
• Repronex

Fertility shots are frequently used in the following circumstances:

• A woman has been unable to conceive using Clomid.
• A woman is suffering from PCOS, luteal phase defects, or an unexplained fertility problem.
• A woman is planning an assisted reproductive technology treatment such as in vitro fertilization and wants to produce several eggs for the procedure.

Success rates for fertility shots are as follows:

• Between 20 and 60 percent of women taking fertility shots are able to successfully conceive.
• Studies estimate that the rate of live births for women taking fertility shots is between 70 and 85 percent.

Understanding the Success Rates of Clomid and Fertility Shots

When discussing the success rates of Clomid and fertility shots, it is important to remember that these drugs work differently for every woman. Regardless of what infertility treatment you choose, your odds of success are influenced by:

• Your age: Fertility treatments are often less effective in older women.
• Your medical history: Women suffering from chronic health problems and those who have body fat levels 10 percent above or below normal guidelines can find it more difficult to conceive.
• The quality of your partner’s sperm: Contrary to popular belief, infertility is not just a female problem. Male fertility is a factor to consider whenever you are trying to conceive. If your partner suffers from infertility issues as well, it will be even more difficult for you to become pregnant.

If you have questions about whether or not a particular fertility treatment may be right for you, discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider. He/she will be able to provide more detailed information on the success rates of Clomid and fertility shots in regards to your case..