Clomid for men?

Clomid, or clomiphene citrate, is a popular female fertility drug that induces ovulation. Did you know that men with fertility problems can benefit from Clomid too in some circumstances?

Thanks to Selbe B/Flickr Creative Commons.

What does Clomid do for women?

Before we get to why Clomid can really help some men with fertility problems, let’s quickly look at why the average woman takes Clomid. Clomiphene is frequently the first medication administered to women, and it is suitable for those who do not ovulate, those who are undergoing fertility treatments such as Intrauterine Insemination, and women who have been diagnosed with idiopathic (unexplained) infertility.

Clomid, which is structurally comparable to the female hormone estrogen, triggers the production of two hormones crucial to the conception process. Those hormones are Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). Clomid triggers the body’s hormonal function into improving, rather than offering a “boost” in the relevant hormones directly. It is, therefore, considered to be much safer than more intense fertility medications like gonadotropin injections.

If Clomid stimulates FSH and LH, what’s in it for men?

You may have been surprised that a female fertility drug can help men get their partner pregnant to start off with, but now that you know that Clomid triggers to very specific hormones that help follicles mature and ovulation to occur, you are probably baffled. Here’s the thing — men need FSH and LH too.

Luteinizing hormones stimulates testosterone production in men, while FSH plays an important role in testicular growth and the sperm cell development. Simply put, low levels of FSH and LH in men result in oligospermia, or a very low sperm count. This, in turn, means that the man is practically infertile. This is where clomiphene citrate comes in.

Clomid prescriptions for men

According to fertility clinics who prescribe Clomid to men, 25 mg to 5o mg of clomiphene daily is the appriopriate starting dose for men who have fertility problems as a result of hormonal issues. This daily regime is maintained for 25 days per month and followed by a break. Sperm production is a surprisingly long process — the time from sperm cell production to ejaculation is approximately 90 days!

Keep in mind that men on Clomid need to be monitored by their fertility clinic carefully. If testosterone levels go from too low to too high, this will also impair sperm production and will not improve the situation any. Women’s clomiphene cycles last for five days per month, and women taking this widely available fertility drug are generally subject to many Clomid side effects. Men on clomiphene are also likely to experience some of the non-female specific side effects.

Clomid prescriptions for men are still controversial. Clomid is actually the most frequently prescribed fertility drug even for men, but its immediate and long-term side effects and its effectiveness have not been studied thoroughly yet. Men who are hoping to become fathers with the help of clomiphene should certainly think twice even before using the drug as prescribed by a competent doctor.

Clomid, being cheap and widely available, is also a drug often dealt in illegally. Anyone can obtain it on the internet. So a word of warning to those who are considering this — Clomid is a serious prescription drug that should only be taken under the careful supervision of a doctor. Without a competent healthcare professional, you will never know if Clomid is the right medication for you. Even if it is, side effects are serious occasionally, and you don’t want to go that alone. “Clomid” bought on the web may also be something completely different. In other words, just stay away from shady online pharmacies advertising “Clomid without prescription”!

Are you a man who has taken Clomid and achieved pregnancy afterward? Or did taking clomiphene not work out for you? In any case, we would really love to hear from people with personal experience. Stories about your side effects on clomiphene would be useful as well. Please feel free to leave a comment!