Struggling with infertility is painfully common in the U.S. According to the CDC, it affects about 12% of women aged 15-44 years old across the country.
For some women, taking fertility medications can help improve ovulation—the release of eggs so you can get pregnant. However, some patients and doctors worry that fertility drugs using estrogen, a female sex hormone, might increase the risk of breast cancer by turning normal breast cells cancerous.
New research has shown that these drugs are safe. A 27-year study of nearly 2 million patients by King’s College London showed that ovary-stimulating fertility treatments do not appear to increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
This news supports the practice of using fertility drugs to help a woman to improve the lining of the uterus and ovulate more regularly. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), around 25% of infertile women have problems with ovulation, and taking these medications can increase the chance of getting pregnant.
We only provide treatments we feel are safe to patients. We’ll only prescribe fertility drugs when other (non-drug) options don’t work. If you are trying to get pregnant, talk with your doctor or midwife about all your options. Fertility medication is more successful when you work with a provider who understands your health and lifestyle needs.
Related Reading: Not ready to try fertility drugs?
Learn about other infertility treatments available.
Drugs That Boost Fertility
The goal of most fertility medications is to stimulate the ovaries to release eggs. Fertility drugs can help with common fertility problems such as:
- Absent or irregular periods
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – a common health problem caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones which can cause infertility and the development of cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in the ovaries
- Fertility concerns with no identified medical cause
Before you try fertility drugs, your provider will ask you to try other non-medication options first. This is because fertility medications are expensive and require a lot of physical and emotional energy.
It’s common for patients to experience stress, anxiety or depression while taking fertility drugs. Waiting to find out if you are pregnant can take a toll, physically and emotionally. The increased hormones can lead to mood swings, fatigue or feeling overwhelmed. These are all totally normal reactions. Be gentle with yourself and schedule time for self-care. If you have questions or concerns anytime throughout this process, contact your women’s health care provider.
Fertility treatments require a lot of time from both partners. Before you begin a treatment, talk with your doctor to decide a reasonable length of time to try the treatment before taking a break or moving on to another approach.
If you and your provider decide that taking fertility medications is right for you, there are different kinds to choose from.
Common oral, vaginal, and injectable medications:
- Bromocriptine (Parlodel®, CYCLOSET®) – An oral or vaginal pill taken once or twice per day until pregnant. It lowers the levels of the hormone prolactin.
- Cabergoline (DOSTINEX®) – An oral or vaginal pill taken once or twice per week until pregnant. It lowers the levels of the hormone prolactin.
- Clomiphene or Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid®) – An oral pill taken on the fifth day of the menstrual cycle menstruation and continued daily for five days. It causes eggs to grow and release during ovulation.
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) – Injected into a muscle like the thigh or buttocks during the early part of the menstrual cycle for 7-12 days. It causes eggs to grow and release during ovulation.
- Letrozole (Femara®) – An oral pill taken on the fifth day of the menstrual cycle menstruation and continued daily for five days. It causes eggs to develop and release during ovulation.
Your doctor will help you decide which medication is best for you.
What Are Common Side Effects of Fertility Drugs?
Although research shows that fertility drugs do not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer, some medications can cause other side effects. Most side effects are temporary and can include:
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Cramps
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Headaches
- Hot flashes
- Mood swings
- Multiple births
- Nausea or vomiting
Talk with your doctor about any prior medical issues such as previous pregnancy loss, underlying chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, mental health concerns, and treatments you have tried in the past. Some could affect the treatment plan your doctor prescribes.
Hope and Support for Infertility
For decades, fertility drugs have been a source of help and hope for many women dreaming of having a baby. If you or a loved one were hesitant to try fertility drugs, this new research provides a chance to talk further with your doctor.
Whether you are trying to get pregnant for the first time or have been through fertility treatments before, we’re here to support you. Our goal is to provide comfortable, respectful women’s health care, every step of the way.