Clomid is the name you think of when the topic of fertility treatment comes up . But do you really know what it is or how it works? Here are five elements to consider so you understand this fertility drug.

1. Although people refer to Clomid the way they would a generic drug, Clomid is actually the brand name of a fertility drug made of a compound called Clomiphene citrate. It is by far the most popular and well known version of this drug, however there are other versions of Clomophene citrate available, namely Serophene and Milophene. You won’t hear much of these though. The same way Coke is used as a generic term for soda, Clomid is also the generic term for Clomiphene citrate.

2. One of the ways Clomid got to be so well-known is that twenty to thirty percent of the time, the failure to achieve conception arises from issues with ovulation, like anovulation that is a possible outcome of PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome). It is also used in fertility techniques like IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) to try and achieve ovarian hyperstimulation. Wherever there is a need to generate an egg when the womans’ reproductive system is not generating egg normally, Clomiphene is usually used.

3. What Clomiphene actually does in a woman’s body to increase her fertility is desensitize estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus, which has the effect of increasing the production of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing Hormone). Increases in FSH usually result in higher estrogen levels, however due to Clomiphene’s desensitizing effect against estrogen FSH levels continue to rise. The continually increasing levels of FSH leads to the growth of more ovarian follicles, and eventually one of them ruptures resulting in ovulation.

4. Even though Clomiphene has worked as fertility treatment for large numbers of women, there are some adverse side effects. The most familiar physical adverse outcomes are hot flashes, breast pain, upset stomach, and problems seeing clearly. More hazardous, though less pervasive side effects include excessive bleeding in the womb, and vomiting. When you stop taking Clomiphene though, the above side effects stop as well.

In the body, what Clomiphene does is make the ovaries larger and which many times can have the effect of causing cysts to grow of the follicles. Another thing it does is make the woman’s cervical mucus lower quality (which in turn makes it harder for the sperm to reach the egg), and thins the lining of the uterus, decreasing the odds of implantation..

One adverse effect that has become commonly referred to is Clomid twins. If you use Clomiphene as part of a fertility treatment, there about 10% probability you will have twins, and around 1% probability you will have triplets.

5. As successful as Clomiphene has been, new research recently published in the journal Human Reproduction has shown that Clomiphene has a “significant association” with nine types of birth defects. The study was done by researchers at the US Center For Disease Control (CDC) and used data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. The defects reported in the paper include; open cranium with the absence of a brain, closed esophagus, intestinal defects, premature fusion of the skull bones, and others. Lawsuits are forming as a result of this study and a high profile court case will probably ensue.

While Clomiphene has been effective as a fertility treatment for many years, it is becoming clear there is risk involved. The use of Clomiphene in your efforts to conceive a child should be done only after you have consulted multiple fertility professionals, and you are fully aware of the potential consequences.

Helene Kvist had her first child at age 41 and her her third and last at age 46. She has written the Powerful Pregnancy Report, a wonderful and practical guide for women who are having trouble getting pregnant.