Fertility treatment using Clomifene tablets

Information for patients We have written this leaflet to provide you with information about your treatment using fertility tablets.

What is Clomifene? Clomifene is a fertility drug which works by stimulating your ovaries to produce eggs ().

What are the benefits of taking Clomifene? The aim of Clomifene is to increase ovulation and increase your chance of becoming pregnant.

What are the risks of taking Clomifene? There are a few small risks as with most ; these include: • Approximately 8% of women who conceive using Clomifene have . Less than one in a thousand have triplets or quads. • Headaches • Abdominal pain • Ovarian cysts • Blurring of vision or yellow colouration of vision; if this occurs stop taking your tablets and consult your GP

What are the alternative treatments to Clomifene? There a few different treatment options, these include: • tablets • Laparoscopy (key hole surgery) • Injections of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

How do I take Clomifene? The usual dose of Clomifene is 50mg. It is taken for five days per month between day 2 and day 6 of your . Day 1 is the first day of your period (the day you start to bleed). You need to take this tablet at the same time every day for the best result.

PD4423-PIL1439 v6 Issue Date: January 2019. Review Date: January 2022 How long can I take Clomifene for? We usually prescribe Clomifene for 6 months.

What if my menstrual cycle is irregular? If your cycle has been irregular in the past and you are not sure when your next period is due you may be given (hormone produced by the ovary during the menstrual cycle) tablets to "bring on" a period. Taking the progestogen tablets will cause you to have a "withdrawal" bleed similar to a period. The first day of this bleed can then be counted as day 1 of your cycle. The doctor or nurse will explain this to you further at your appointment.

How will I know if the Clomifene is working? You may be asked to have a blood test during the menstrual cycle in which you are taking Clomifene. We usually take this blood sample on day 21 of your menstrual cycle and measure levels of the female hormone called . A level of 30nmol/l or more is a good result. If the level is lower than 30nmol/l (suboptimal) we may increase your dose of Clomifene and re-check your blood levels. The doctor or nurse may also discuss other treatment options with you.

What if I do not have a period after taking Clomifene? If your period is more than one week late you should perform a test. If you are not pregnant it is likely that you did not ovulate in this cycle and we may need to increase your dose of Clomifene.

Who can I contact if I have any questions? If you have any concerns or need further information then please do not hesitate to contact: • Gynaecology Outpatient Department: 0114 226 8441

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PD4423-PIL1439 v6 Issue Date: January 2019. Review Date: January 2022