For many individuals and couples, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is the ideal fertility treatment due to its high success rate. In order to ensure optimal results, fertility medications are commonly used, which is why patients should first consider if they are good candidates for taking the medications required for conventional IVF.

Let’s consider why fertility drugs are used for an IVF journey and what patients may experience while taking these medications.

The Role of Fertility Medications in IVF
During IVF cycles, fertility doctors prescribe various fertility medications to their female patients as part of the treatment process. These fertility drugs trigger the release of various hormones that stimulate egg production and maturation while also regulating ovulation.

By taking these medications, women are essentially made more fertile during the possible egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedure, which improves the chances of a successful pregnancy. These fertility drugs optimize the treatment process by allowing fertility doctors to time each step of the procedure to meet the needs of their patients.

Types of Fertility Drugs in IVF

There are different kinds of fertility drugs, as well as different dosages that may be prescribed for IVF. This is dependent on many factors, such as the type of IVF cycle being performed and the couple’s fertility goals.

However, prescriptions typically include a personalized combination of the following medications:

• Clomid or Serophene (Clomiphene) – Clomiphene is a type of estrogen-blocking medication. It triggers the release of GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), and LH (luteinizing hormone), which signal your ovaries to produce eggs.
• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) – Additional FSH may be used in addition to clomiphene to help stimulate the production of eggs.
• Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG) – This fertility drug is a combination of FSH and LH, and can be used to supplement the effects of clomiphene.
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) – This fertility drug is used to trigger a woman’s ovaries to release viable eggs.

The exact medications and types of drugs required for your treatment will be determined during the consultation process. Keep in mind that some of these medications can be taken orally while others will be administered through injections.

Common Side Effects of Fertility Drugs
The side effects of most fertility drugs tend to be mild and temporary. Typically the side effects are milder in oral medications (clomid) than injections (gonadotropins).