Ovulation inducers are medications based on clomiphene citrate that help women who do not ovulate or have irregular ovulation. They can be a solution for couples who dream of becoming parents but find anovulation an obstacle to fulfilling this dream, whether just through the use of the inducer and timed intercourse, or even as part of an in vitro fertilization cycle or artificial insemination.
Who Needs to Take an Ovulation Inducer?
Some women really need to take medication to ovulate, because even though they appear to menstruate normally, they may not be ovulating. The ovulation inducer can give a big boost for pregnancy to happen1. One of these cases is women who have hormonal problems, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome for example. But although very good and effective, treatment with ovulation inducer may not be all smooth sailing…
For those who don’t want to start with medication without trying other options, there are natural methods to induce ovulation, such as consuming yam. Yam can help regulate hormones naturally through the phytohormone diosgenin2. Since it’s practically impossible to eat yams at every meal for days, to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment, yam can also be taken in the form of yam capsules, which are more convenient for women’s busy routines. You can buy them in our online store.
Inducers and Pregnancy
What you should know about the inducer is that it’s not miraculous and can pose some risks to women if used without monitoring and without medical advice. After a year of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant, the couple should do tests to find out the cause of infertility. If no specific problem or even anovulation is identified, the doctor may recommend using an ovulation inducer to facilitate pregnancy.
Types of Ovulation Inducers
Usually the most commonly used ovulation inducer in gynecology clinics are the oral clomiphene-based medications. These are sold in pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription. However, the prescription does not need to be retained, and in many places you can buy it freely.
This availability of inducers has become a threat for those wanting to get pregnant, since self-medication has become more frequent. This is medication that can pose risks to a woman’s reproductive health. Injectable inducers are more expensive, which discourages indiscriminate use. However, new cases continue to appear of problems with relatively cheap and accessible inducers like clomiphene for example.
Recommended Dose for Inducer Use
There are many questions about how to take inducers. The initial dose should be 50mg daily for a period of 5 days. However, even doctors sometimes start with doses of 100mg in patients who have never used ovulation inducers. This ‘oversight’ can have consequences.
That’s why it’s always recommended to start with the lowest dosage and, if needed, gradually increase up to a maximum of 150mg daily for 5 days. After using 150mg daily without satisfactory results, considering treatment with an injectable inducer should be discussed.
Injectable inducers are used more often in clinics for processes like in vitro fertilization or artificial insemination. Together with medications based on HCG, they make ovulation actually happen.
Pros and Cons of Ovulation Inducers
When used properly, the ovulation inducer is a great help for fertility. However, if used incorrectly, they can get in the way, and in simpler cases can become a nightmare for someone trying to conceive. Most of the time, the side effects of ovulation inducers may only be pain from ovarian stimulation3.
Women who genuinely don’t ovulate due to polycystic ovary syndrome should assess the level of the condition and always try to clear the ovaries before stimulating new follicles. There are medications today that are excellent for getting the ovaries ready for the use of an ovulation inducer, whether oral or injectable. Myo-inositol, which is found in FamiSitol, is a vitamin that can correct hormonal imbalances that interfere with ovulation in women with PCOS. You can buy it here in our online store.
The inducer stimulates the pituitary gland to send the ovulation stimulating hormone (FSH), which will trigger the initial development of follicles. The problem is that when the inducer exceeds the desired level of stimulation, it can cause significant ovarian hyperstimulation.
What Is Ovarian Hyperstimulation?
Hyperstimulation is an excessive production and stimulation of eggs in one or even both ovaries. This overproduction can be very painful for the woman who took the inducer. Normally, ovarian hyperstimulation due to ovulation induction is very painful.
The use of an ovulation inducer can cause pain, but these are more like strong cramps in the lower abdomen where the ovaries are, and are very common. However, the pain from hyperstimulation is much more intense and can even cause fever, abnormal abdominal swelling, irritability, and pain during intercourse.
Problems from Overstimulation
The problems caused by overstimulation from using an inducer can far outweigh the benefit of the inducer. Therefore, the use of these medications should be accompanied by a doctor to avoid bigger problems, such as the need to remove the affected ovary.
Treatment for Overstimulation
The treatment for excessive stimulation is just to treat the symptoms, with painkillers for example. Sometimes the doctor may prescribe medication to help release these eggs, relieving pressure on the ovaries. If the ovaries are severely affected by hyperstimulation, surgery may be considered to drain the fluid. But that’s in a very small percentage of cases.
On the other hand, there is anovulation even with the medication. That’s why ovarian function is monitored with ultrasound. Ideally, this should be done even with the minimum use of inducers, to determine whether the medication is working. If anovulation is confirmed even with ovulation inducer use, it’s up to the doctor to consider increasing the dose, even in its injectable form.
The pros and cons of each case should be evaluated by the doctor before prescribing the inducer, so taking it without medical guidance can be very risky and further delay the dream of pregnancy.
Did you know that using clomiphene can make the endometrium hostile (less receptive) to the fertilized egg? Yes! That’s why it’s always advised to pair the use of an ovulation inducer with a medication to reduce this hostility. These are usually medications that make the endometrium softer and more receptive for embryo implantation.
Note from the Blogger
I had ovarian hyperstimulation on the third attempt with inducers. I was taking the lowest dose when my gynecologist prescribed 150mg of clomiphene for 5 days. I took it and even before finishing the treatment I was in terrible pain.
Although I felt pain while taking 50mg of inducer, things got even worse when I went up to 150mg. I went to the ER, where they discovered ovarian hyperstimulation, which resulted in a few months of rest for me and also a large hemorrhagic cyst. So be very careful with indiscriminate use of the inducer—it can be great, but it can also play the villain in your attempts to get pregnant.
Women who are proven not to ovulate, by hormones and ultrasound, should indeed use ovulation stimulators. They are very effective as long as they’re used with moderation and caution and, of course, with proper medical supervision. Remember: every case is unique, and if you need to take an inducer, you can do so safely as long as it’s prescribed by a doctor, OK?
