From the Dungeons of Clomiphene...
Its a logical time to revisit Clomiphene..The Indian Government has banned the use of another Ovulation Induction drug, Letrozole! It was sufficient to wake me from the inertia of writing this blog.
So, why am I talking this jargon really? Some of you would ask me "what do I care a bit about the tussle between the government and drugs! My gynaecologist gets me to ovulate"..Well time to sit up and question how and what and a lot more.
A good 70% patients in India have no clue about their fertility issues, leave alone the treatment prescribed for the same, duration and feasibility of such a treatment and outcomes verses side effects.
Ovulation Induction is the medical process of getting your eggs to grow and finally to ovulate to help conception. It is achieved by Clomiphene citrate or other common drug which was until now in use, i.e Letrozole. Clomiphene works wonders and in patient where ovulation is the only hurdle to pregnancy, it helps approximately 70% women ovulate and yes the success stories are the ones we have heard since time immemorial. But we Indians have a tendency to go for the overkill, the drug has been used, overused, misused and yes...abused!
Literature permits the use of clomiphene to a maximum of 6-7 cycles, each treatment cycle separated from the next by at least a month to allow the drug to be completely eliminated from the body. The use of clomiphene beyond 12 cycles is not advisable due to the risk of ovarian tumors as found in many studies.
Still we see patients on the medication every month for years all together! If the doctors will not wake up, the patients should, and ask what is the drug given to them for aiding conception and side effects there of. If the drug is to be used in a limited fashion, it is only logical to use it most efficiently and monitor the effects thereof rather than giving it empirically to all patient who step in the clinic seeking fertility.
Before you accept clomiphene from your doctor, do endeavor to ensure your husband's sperms are good, your hormones are all in normal range, the sonography of pelvis is normal and yes, best would be to also know that your fallopian tubes are patent.
Shooting in dark may be adventurous, but when dealing with fertility, I would rather have the flood lights on, so that I see all clear in my view field!
Time to wake up dear Couples, and take control of your fertility, ofcource with the help of your friendly Gynecologist!
So, why am I talking this jargon really? Some of you would ask me "what do I care a bit about the tussle between the government and drugs! My gynaecologist gets me to ovulate"..Well time to sit up and question how and what and a lot more.
A good 70% patients in India have no clue about their fertility issues, leave alone the treatment prescribed for the same, duration and feasibility of such a treatment and outcomes verses side effects.
Ovulation Induction is the medical process of getting your eggs to grow and finally to ovulate to help conception. It is achieved by Clomiphene citrate or other common drug which was until now in use, i.e Letrozole. Clomiphene works wonders and in patient where ovulation is the only hurdle to pregnancy, it helps approximately 70% women ovulate and yes the success stories are the ones we have heard since time immemorial. But we Indians have a tendency to go for the overkill, the drug has been used, overused, misused and yes...abused!
Literature permits the use of clomiphene to a maximum of 6-7 cycles, each treatment cycle separated from the next by at least a month to allow the drug to be completely eliminated from the body. The use of clomiphene beyond 12 cycles is not advisable due to the risk of ovarian tumors as found in many studies.
Still we see patients on the medication every month for years all together! If the doctors will not wake up, the patients should, and ask what is the drug given to them for aiding conception and side effects there of. If the drug is to be used in a limited fashion, it is only logical to use it most efficiently and monitor the effects thereof rather than giving it empirically to all patient who step in the clinic seeking fertility.
Before you accept clomiphene from your doctor, do endeavor to ensure your husband's sperms are good, your hormones are all in normal range, the sonography of pelvis is normal and yes, best would be to also know that your fallopian tubes are patent.
Shooting in dark may be adventurous, but when dealing with fertility, I would rather have the flood lights on, so that I see all clear in my view field!
Time to wake up dear Couples, and take control of your fertility, ofcource with the help of your friendly Gynecologist!
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