Fertility drugs are known to be prescribed obviously in order to enhance fertility. In women, it is used to stimulate ovary’s development or to enhance the ovulation to more than one egg in a cycle.

Fertility drugs either start ovulation or strengthen them and make them release more than one egg in one cycle, increasing the chances of multiples. Fertility drugs also help women conceive when their reproductive system is weak.

If a woman is having ovulation problems, her doctor should prescribe fertility drugs. Infrequent ovulation can be caused by a wide range of conditions so the fertility drugs prescribed should be based on special diagnosis.

The fertility in both men and women can be affected by factors like; stress, poor diet, injuries, hormonal imbalance, conditions affecting ovulation, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, elevated levels of prolactin hormone, and conditions affecting the uterus.

Below are some of the best fertility drugs:

• Clomiphene: Also known as Clomid, it is one of the best fertility drugs known. It helps in the release of more than one egg in a single cycle. Because of its aid in releasing multiple eggs into a cycle, the probability of conceiving twins on Clomid is increased. Clomiphene works by restraining estrogen receptors at the hypothalamus which stimulates the hypothalamus to secrete FSH[follicle stimulating hormone] and LH [luteinizing hormone]. These hormones are natural stimulants of the ovary.
• Follistim: Also known as Follitropin, it behaves like the follicle stimulating hormone. Unlike Clomiphene, Follistim is rather an injection. It supplies the body with a synthetic version of the natural sex hormone which helps building mature eggs and sperm that have high probabilities of being fertile and creates an embryo and which would lead to a successful pregnancy.
• Bravelle: Also known as Urofollitropin, it is one of the best fertility drugs. Bravelle is a follicle stimulating hormone drug which is used in combination with HCG [human chorionic gonadotropin] for the release and growth of mature eggs. Bravelle was extracted and purified from the urine of post-menopausal women. Bravelle can also be injected like follitropin.
• Novarel: This is a good fertility drug that mimics the luteinizing hormone in the body. It is made from the human chorionic gonadotropin and unlike Bravelle, it is extracted and purified from the urine of pregnant women. It stimulates the corpus luteum to secrete progesterone and prepare the uterus lining for the implantation of the fertilized egg.
• Bromocriptine: This works by mimicking neurotransmitters in the body which causes the pituitary gland to stop the production of prolactin. Secretion of hormones for ovulation will resume when prolactin is within normal range.
• Metformin: Metformin is known to help with resistance of insulin. When the body is insulin resistant, it tends to produce more testosterone. It decreases the basal and postprandial glucose levels without the danger of thehypoglycaemia.
• Letrozole: Also known as Femara, Letrozole is from the family of aromatase inhibitors. Aromatase is known to be an enzyme that assumes the responsibility of the production of estrogen. Letrozole inhibits aromatase thereby supressing the estrogen production.
• Lupron: Lupron is a gonadotropin releasing hormone. Lupron works by stimulating the pituitary gland which produces luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. With the continuation of Lupron, it will supress the pituitary and stops the production of the luteinizing hormone and the follicle stimulating hormone which are involved in ovulation.
• Cabergoline: Also known as Dostinex, it is known to be a fertility drug. It is a dopamine agonist that helps in the stimulation of dopamine in the brain. Cabergoline is used to deal with prolactin secreted by the pituitary gland.
• Ganirelix: Ganirelix is a fertility medicine that prevents premature luteinizing hormones surges in women which are undergoing the fertility procedure of controlled ovarian hyper stimulation.
• Cetrorelix: Cetrorelix is a fertility drug used to hinder premature ovulation in women undergoing ovarian stimulation. It helps to control the hormone levels causing premature eggs to release from the ovary.
• Corifollitropin alfa: Also referred to as Elonva, it is the end product of the fusion of human follicle stimulating hormone and the C terminal peptide of HCG. It stimulates the production of eggs in the ovaries. In Elonva, a peptide is said to be attached to the follicle stimulating hormone to increase its activity’s period in the body.
• Cetrotide: Cetrotide is a fertility drug which hinders the effect of LHRH [luteinising hormone releasing hormone] in the body. LHRH monopolises the production and release of the luteinising hormone in the body which causes ovulation.
• Imipramine: Imipramine is used to treat retrograde ejaculation. It normalizes the abnormal release of sperm into the penis from the bladder.
• Zoladex: Also known as Goserelin, it acts on the pituitary gland below the hypothalamus in the brain in the same way gonadorelin does. Zoladex reduces the testosterone in men and estrogen in women. It enhances the release of sex hormone, luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland.
• Suprecur: Also referred to as Buserelin hinders the natural production of hormones involved in ovulation. Suprecur is a synthetic form of hormone which naturally occurs within the body. It acts on the pituitary gland natural hormones production that controls the way the ovaries release eggs.
• Synarel: Also known as Nafarelin, it is a synthetic form of gonadorelin. It acts on the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone’s receptors in the pituitary gland. It causes an increase in the follicle stimulating hormone and the luteinising hormone.
• Repronex: Repronex is a good fertility drug similar to both Follistim and Bravelle. It stimulates the development of the ovarian follicles.

Most of these drugs above have been used successfully without causing any harm for over 40 years. They can increase the chances of conceiving twins, triplets and so on. Some fertility drugs have certain side effects which include headache, bloating, breast tenderness, hot flashes, stomach aches and sometimes they also cause mood swings. Despite all the side effects, fertility drugs are still very effective. Before one takes any medication, one should first consult a doctor to discuss the risks.