What Does Clomid Do for Men?

Fertility treatments involve several phases, one of which is ovarian stimulation. During this process, hormone injections as well as medications are used to assist the ovaries to develop several eggs to maturity. Clomid is one of these medications used to stimulate the ovaries. Clomid is also used in fertility treatments for men but it is prescribed off-label. Off-label prescriptions can only be administered by professional healthcare providers. We shall now discuss how clomid works for men and how it helps in male fertility.

What Is Clomid?

While the FDA classifies clomid as an ovarian stimulant, it has also been prescribed off-label for the treatment of fibrocystic breasts as well as abnormalities in a person’s menstrual cycle. When used as an ovarian stimulant, results are observed within five days from the start of treatment.  When used as treatment for male infertility, the results are typically observed after three months or so. This is because whereas women’s ovaries already have an ovarian reserve, men’s testicles produce new sperm cells regularly, and they take about three months to mature before being released out of the body. This means that only the newly developing sperm cells are impacted by the use of clomid. 

How Clomid Works for Men

The purpose of using clomid in men’s fertility treatments is to improve sperm health markers such as sperm concentration and sperm motility. These two markers are crucial in reproduction because the sperm needs to swim to the egg to fertilize it, and the more sperm there are it increases the odds of fertilization. As well, clomid increases the production of testosterone which is central to sperm production. It also increases the levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which are crucial to the fertilization process. As such, clomid has been accepted as a safe medication in the treatment of infertility in men.

How Clomid Helps With Male Fertility 

Let us now look at the process of treating male infertility using clomid. To begin with, tests will be run by a professional healthcare provider. These tests will help to determine the levels that each of the fertility markers are at, before treatment begins. The results will also assist the healthcare practitioner to determine the dosage of clomid to administer in order to begin the treatments.

As we have already pointed out, it is not possible to observe the results of treatment in men as readily as in women. So the baseline markers may not show any change initially. What will be initially evident is the change in hormonal levels. These changes are what will be monitored over time until the evidence is seen in the sperm cells about three months after the start of treatment. 

As treatment proceeds, hormonal levels must be monitored carefully in order to ensure that they do not become too high. If the hormone levels increase excessively, it will result in fertility being negatively impacted. This in turn will produce less viable sperm, which would be counterproductive to reproduction. 

Side Effects of Clomid

As with any medication, at times a person can experience some side effects. The side effects of clomid will need to be reported right away so that treatment may be managed. Below are some of these side-effects that one may experience after treatment has began:

• If a person experiences regular headaches.
• If a person experiences mood changes
• If a person experiences changes in their regular energy levels.
• Experiencing nausea
• Having acne
• Having a weight gain
• Having pattern baldness
• Having an enlarged prostate gland

Alternative Ways to Intervene in Infertility in Males

Statistically, about 15 percent of the male population in the US face challenges with fertility. While clomid is a very good treatment for infertility in males, it is not the only treatment that is effective. Consider this, that male infertility has had treatment prior to the introduction of clomid. Below are some other treatments available: 

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

ART has been a game changer for both women and men when it comes to family building. Where a man’s sperm has low fertility markers, the ‘sperm wash’ process has enabled more viable sperm to be selected for the fertilization process. As well, since fertilization is done in a controlled lab environment, sperm that had low motility with no other impeding markers, can still fertilize an egg. 

Hormone Treatments and Medication

These hormone treatments and medications come in the form of gonadotropins, aromatase inhibitors, and dopamine agonists. These, like clomid, are also prescribed off-label and the prescriptions are administered relative to an individual’s situation and fertility markers. 

Treatment for Challenges with Sexual Intercourse

Infertility caused by challenges in sexual intercourse typically come in the form of premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. These present challenges in having sex in the first place, which can have a negative impact psychologically as well. While there are medical treatments for this, it is also recommended that a person experiencing challenges with sexual intercourse seek professional counselling.

In Conclusion

Clomid has been used successfully in ovarian stimulation during female fertility treatments. As well, it has been used successfully in the treatment of male infertility. As well, this medication has been used as treatment for other conditions. While the use of clomid as a treatment for male infertility is still being studied, the use of clomid for this and other off-label treatments can only be prescribed by a professional healthcare provider.   

To learn more about the management of infertility or family building options, contact the team of experts at IVF Fertility Center. We provide our care with consideration and compassion, to give you the most valuable and personalized treatment for your circumstance.