Like in vitro fertilization and some fertility treatments, fertility drugs may lead to more than one birth in a single conception with some women. It is always important to remember, however, that every woman is different and just because one woman who took fertility drugs ends up with multiple births doesn't mean that all women will have the same outcome.
The most common cause of infertility in women is a failure to ovulate. Many drugs for fertility work to correct this problem by stimulating the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH stimulates the ovarian follicle which consists of the egg and any surrounding fluids and hormones, while LH works to stimulate ovulation.
Some of the fertility drugs for women include clomiphene citrate, human chorionic gonadotropin, human menopausal gonadotropin and injections of follicle stimulating hormone. The first causes the pituitary gland to release FSH and LH, while the second is an injectable treatment to stimulate ovulation and helps to enhance the maturity of eggs. The latter may lead to the release of multiple eggs, which may result in multiple births. The former has been associated with a lower rate of excessive births by some accounts.
The third type of fertility drug mentioned is also an injectable drug that also contains FSH and LH. It stimulates the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which may also lead to multiple births. Finally, injections of FSH stimulate the production of multiple eggs, which again may lead to multiple births.
However, multiple births are not always the case and many women taking fertility drugs who successfully become pregnant subsequently give birth to just one child. According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, in cases where multiple eggs are produced, one in three women who become pregnant will have numerous births.
Multiple births may lead to certain risks that women should be aware of before undergoing fertility treatment or taking fertility drugs. These risks include premature births, low birth weight and certain developmental problems. To help combat the risk of multiple births, a fertility doctor may monitor the woman's egg production while taking fertility drugs. In cases where a large number of eggs are produced, the fertility doctor may recommend avoiding conception for the month.
In cases of fertility treatments that involve the transfer of embryos to the uterus or other parts of the reproductive system, the number of embryos used may be limited to reduce the chances of multiple births. Still, however, multiple embryos may be transferred to help improve the chances of conception.
