IUI And Clomid

In intrauterine insemination (IUI), or artificial insemination, sperm are placed directly into a woman's uterus in order to facilitate fertilization. In many cases doctors recommend augmenting the IUI process with fertility drugs, whose purpose is to trigger ovulation and thereby increase the chances that a woman will get pregnant. Clomid is one of the primary fertility medications used in conjunction with IUI.

About Clomid

Clomid, also known as Clomiphene Citrate or Serophene, is a well-known and widely used fertility drug. One reason for its popularity is the fact that is taken in pill form rather than by injection, which is easier and simpler. Secondly, Clomid is very effective! Studies report that Clomid has an 80% success rate of stimulating ovulation.

When is Clomid Used?

One of the primary uses of Clomid is in conjunction with IUI. This is for good reason. It is estimated that 25% of all female factor infertility cases are the result of ovulation dysfunctions. If a woman has irregular menstrual cycles or is experiencing anovulaory cycles (where menstruation occurs without ovulation), IUI and Clomid might be the perfect solution.

IUI is also used to treat unexplained infertility, and in cases of male factor infertility. Since IUI allows the placement of sperm directly into the uterus, it can be helpful in cases of poor sperm mobility, low sperm count, premature ejaculation, or impotence. To ensure that there is an egg or eggs waiting for the sperm, Clomid is the perfect partner to IUI, given its very high success rate in stimulating ovulation and the release of eggs into the fallopian tubes.

Clomid is also popular in other treatments for infertility. Clomid is often employed in the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). On the other hand, Clomid is rarely used in combination with in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a more aggressive and expensive treatment which normally requires the use of injected fertility medications.

How to Take Clomid

Clomid is ingested in pill form. Clomid is most commonly prescribed in doses of 50 mg. It is taken for five consecutive days during a woman's menstrual cycle. Doctors recommend different staring days for taking Clomid (i.e., Day Three or Day Five of a woman's cycle), however the resulting pregnancy rates appear to be the same no matter what day Clomid is begun.

If a 50 mg dose does not result in pregnancy, doctors might recommend a higher dose. However, as the dose of Clomid increases, so does the rate of risk and side effect factor of this fertility drug.

Clomid Risks/Side Effects

Temporary side effects of taking Clomid include tender breasts, mood swings, nausea, and hot flashes. These symptoms stop, however, once the cycle of Clomid is finished.

A more serious risk factor of taking Clomid in combination with IUI is the risk of multiple births. Since the release of more than one egg can result from the stimulation of the ovaries with Clomid, there is an increased chance of more than one egg being fertilized, resulting in twins, triplets, or higher-order births. There are potential health risks to mother and baby in multiple births.

Statistically, it is estimated that the risk of becoming pregnant with twins while taking Clomid is 10%, while the risk of becoming pregnant with triplets is less than 1%.

In addition, Clomid may decrease the quality of a woman's cervical mucus (which sperm utilize to make their way to an egg), and make the uterus lining thinner and less than ideal for implantation. For these reasons doctors should be cautious about increasing the dose of Clomid too high.

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