Believe it or not, Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) is a medication that can be used both in male and female infertility.
– when Clomid is prescribed for a woman it is used to help induce ovulation and for men it is used to help increase testosterone and increase sperm counts.
Clomid works by blocking estrogen at the pituitary and the hypothalamus. This tells the body to make more LH hormone because it sees that there is less estrogen circulating in the body. In the male, more LH hormone yields more testosterone being produced. When Clomid is indicated, it can help improve sperm counts.
Many people think that if the testosterone is low, the male partner should take testosterone supplements to increase the level.
Taking testosterone supplements will actually have the opposite effect. When a man takes testosterone supplements, this tells the brain and the pituitary that enough testosterone is being made and the LH level will drop. When this drop occurs, testosterone production will stop; thus drastically decreasing sperm counts. If you or your partner are experiencing decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction or any other symptoms it is always important to have a consultation with your physician.
Your doctor will do preliminary blood tests to determine if the male partner is a candidate for treatment with Clomid. Tests that are usually checked include FSH, LH, Testosterone, and Prolactin, and Semen Analysis. If you are a candidate, the good news is that Clomid is usually inexpensive and tolerated well by the male partner. As with any treatment, it does take time to see if Clomid is going to be a good treatment option. You will usually do follow up labs in four weeks to see if Clomid is an effective treatment option in your case.
Please visit http://www.txfertility.com/09treatment-options.php for more information.
Or you can read about our study on the use of Clomid in Men at http://www.txfertility.com/08abstracts.php.