Fertility drugs make parenthood possible by treating many causes of infertility

Infertility is complex, and many different conditions can cause it. For example, one patient might not ovulate regularly due to a diagnosis such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Someone else might have regular ovulation but struggle with a luteal phase defect that interferes with embryo implantation. In both cases (and in many others), our Las Vegas infertility clinic can prescribe fertility drugs that can help a patient welcome home a baby.

Fertility medications also play an important role in fertility treatment cycles that include intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Because patients often have questions about these medications, our Las Vegas infertility clinic is highlighting the most common drugs we prescribe for hopeful parents.

Oral fertility medications can help regulate cycles and treat certain conditions

Most fertility drugs fall into two general categories: oral medications and injectable ones. Oral fertility medications typically come in the form of a pill that a patient swallows with a glass of water.

• Clomiphene citrate, also known as Clomid, stimulates ovulation (the release of an egg) by affecting the pituitary gland. This medication tells the gland to release more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormonal changes cause the ovarian follicle that contains the egg to grow.
• Letrozole, which people might also call Femara, is an aromatase inhibitor. Although it is a different type of medication, it works much like Clomid to stimulate ovulation.

Both of these medications can be great options for patients who struggle to ovulate due to conditions such as PCOS. Our doctors may prescribe Clomid or Femara for a patient to take as part of a IUI cycle or with timed intercourse. However, these medications are not used with IVF.

Other oral medications can have surprising benefits for fertility patients

While Clomid and Femara are common oral fertility medications, they aren’t the only oral drugs that our team prescribes. In fact, the doctors at our Las Vegas infertility clinic sometimes prescribe medications that might surprise patients.

• Metformin is a medication that doctors often use to treat Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. However, our doctors may also give it to PCOS patients with insulin resistance. When insulin resistance improves, ovulation often does as well.
• Birth control pills are typically used to prevent pregnancy, but they also have a place in fertility treatment. Our physicians often prescribe birth control pills to control a patient’s menstrual cycle, which makes it easier to schedule IVF treatment.
• Antibiotics also can play a role in fertility care. Not only can they treat infections that may be affecting fertility, but our doctors may also give them before or during surgery.

Our team will order fertility testing to help determine which of these oral medications might be right for you.

Injectable fertility drugs also play important roles in treatment cycles

Most people don’t enjoy getting injections, but injectable medications are vital to the success of an IVF cycle. The following medications have helped many patients conceive and have the babies they hoped for.

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is often given as an injection during fertility treatment to stimulate the growth of the egg-containing follicles on the ovaries.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist are both injections that prevent ovulation during an IVF cycle. These shots can help our doctors retrieve a patient’s eggs at the best time.
• Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) shots work to complete egg maturation. At the same time, these shots also stimulate progesterone production, which tells the uterus to prepare the uterine lining for an embryo.

The team at our Las Vegas infertility clinic knows that fertility injections can be intimidating. As a result, we provide comprehensive injection training and support. We want every patient to feel confident and comfortable taking their medications.

Some fertility medications are available in different formats

While most of the medications we use are either an injection or a pill, some fertility drugs can come in more than one form. Two of the most common medications in this group are estradiol and progesterone.

• Estradiol is a type of estrogen that our doctors often prescribe for patients undergoing IVF. This medication is available as a pill or a vaginal suppository. It can help stimulate egg growth and thicken the uterine lining during a frozen embryo transfer cycle.
• Progesterone is available as an injection, a tablet, a vaginal suppository or a gel. Because medications for IVF can affect the body’s ability to make progesterone, our team often recommends supplemental progesterone. This medication can improve pregnancy rates.

Before prescribing any medications, our fertility specialists perform a full diagnostic workup. The test results help our providers make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the best medications for each patient.

If you’d like to learn more about fertility drugs and which ones can help you conceive, contact us to schedule an appointment. Our Las Vegas infertility clinic is here to guide you on your path to parenthood.