Using Fertility Drugs
According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), approximately 85 to 90 percent of all infertility cases are treated either by providing fertility drugs to women or through reproductive organ surgery. One of the leading causes of female infertility is problems with (or lack of) ovulation. The Mayo Clinic reports that fertility drugs are the main line of treatment for women with this condition. Most fertility drugs work in one of two ways: they either stimulate ovarian follicle growth, or they induce ovulation.
Fertility Drugs That Stimulate Follicle Growth
Many fertility drugs used today stimulate follicle growth on the ovary. According to the Mayo Clinic, these drugs are designed to mimic the actions of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), which is a naturally occurring hormone that causes ovaries to grow follicles. Upon ovulation, these follicles burst and release eggs for fertilization. Different fertility drugs accomplish this in different ways. For instance, Clomiphene (also known under the brand names Clomid and Serophene) triggers the pituitary gland to release more of its naturally produced FSH. FSH can also be taken directly, and is available under the brand names Gonal-F and Bravelle.
Fertility Drugs That Stimulate Ovulation
Other fertility drugs are available that stimulate ovulation, which causes a mature follicle to burst and release an egg into a Fallopian tube. These drugs may be used alone, or as an adjunct to follicle-growing drugs. They are called gonadotropins. The three commonly used in fertility treatments are human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG, also known under the brand name Repronex), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG, also known under the brain names Ovidrel and Pregnyl) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (Gn-RH). Both hMG and HCG work directly on the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. GN-RH, on the other hand, works on the pituitary gland to prevent premature ovulation from occurring. It is usually used in conjunction with FSH.
Other Fertility Drugs
Insulin resistance and abnormal prolactin levels can also be indirect causes of infertility, as they interfere both with follicle production and ovulation. Metformin, also known as Glucophage, may be used as a fertility treatment if insulin resistance (which can cause ovarian cysts, and thus interfere with follicle formation and ovulation) is the suspected cause of infertility. Abnormally high levels of prolactin (the hormone that stimulates breast milk production) may also be the cause of irregular ovulation in some women. Bromocriptine, also known as Parlodel, may be used to decrease prolactin levels in women who are infertile. Good news from the National Institutes of Health: about two-thirds of couples who undergo fertility drug treatment succeed in getting pregnant.
