What are the side effects of taking fertility pills & what effect do they have on the baby if you do conceive?

Question

we've been married 14 months now. was able to conceive last februrary but i had a miscarriage. got another BFN this morning and i'm getting frustrated and depressed. we finally talked about consulting with my ob-gyn about using fertility pills, but my hubby is concerned about side effects on me and the baby. so please share any info you have.

Answer 1

A doctor will not put you on fertility drugs unless you are a good  candidate.  You have already been able to conceive.  Just because you are frustrated and depressed is not a good reason.  Fertility drugs is not the first thing, but one of the last things that is recommended when TTC.

Answer 2

The only fertility pill that I know of is clomid.  Otherwise, other fertility drugs come in the form of injections.

Clomid is suppose to be for women who do not ovulate.  It helps their bodies to ovulate.  However, many doctors prescribe clomid as the first treatment in infertility.  Especially if they do not know the cause of the infertility.  

Side effects of clomid for the cycle that you take the pills:  moodiness, breast tenderness, nausea, visual problems (spots or flashes), uterine bleeding, cysts, increase in chance of twins......side effects that can occur that would prevent you from being able to conceive the cycle you take the pills: hostile cervical mucus & thinning of the uterine lining.  Some women experience many of these symptoms; others experience none.  Doctors claim there are no long term effects on the woman or the fetus.  

It is considered normal for a healthy couple under 30 to take up to one year to conceive.  I am sorry for your loss.  Unfortunately, miscarriages are very common.  25% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage.  Having one miscarriage does not increase your odds of having another.  

Once you have been trying to conceive for 6 months since your miscarriage, go talk to your OBGYN.  If you do not conceive within three cycles under your OBGYN, make an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist (RE).  They are specialists in infertility.  They will be able to help you much more than a regular OBGYN.  

I wish you the best of luck.