Clomiphene Citrate
Clomiphene citrate is the generic name of a fertility pill which is used to induce ovulation. Brand names include Clomid and Serophene. This medication is associated with an 8% risk of twinning (normal risk is 1%) and about 1/1000 risk of triplets or more. Side effects include hot flashes, dizziness, headaches and ovarian cyst development. Patients that conceive on clomiphene usually do so by the 3rd or 4th ovulatory cycle. If an intrauterine insemination is performed as well, there is a 1 chance in 500 risk of infection.
Clomiphene citrate does not increase the risk of birth defects when taken properly. If clomiphene citrate is taken while pregnant, it may increase the risk for birth defects. Some women interpret early pregnancy bleeding as a period. For this reason, we recommend that you take a urine pregnancy test each month just before starting the clomiphene citrate even if you had what you think is a period.
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For counting purposes, the first day of your period is cycle day 1, the second day is cycle day 2 and so on. The first day of your next period is cycle day 1 of the next cycle. If you start your period before cycle day 35, you are not pregnant but probably ovulated on the medication. Get a refill on your prescription and begin another cycle with the next table taking the medication as before after a negative urine pregnancy test.
If there is no period by cycle day 35, please get a home urine pregnancy test and call (859) 260-1515 either way. If you have not started by cycle day 35, it is likely that you are either pregnant or did not ovulate. If you are not pregnant, the doctor may increase the dose of your medication or switch to a different type. If you are pregnant, a sonogram is recommended because of the risk of twins.