Infertility can affect both males and females. According to the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, infertility results from:
- male reproductive issues one-third of the time
- female reproductive issues one-third of the time
- unknown issues or both male and female reproductive issues one-third of the time
Doctors consider a person to have infertility if they are unable to achieve pregnancy after trying for 1 year.
In this article, we discuss what clomiphene citrate is, whether it works for males with infertility, and when doctors prescribe it to males. We also cover its side effects and other male fertility treatments.
What is clomiphene citrate?
Clomiphene citrate is a type of ovary stimulant. Doctors commonly prescribe this medication to treat infertility in females.
Clomiphene citrate works in a similar way to estrogen, which is a female sex hormone. Taking this drug encourages ovulation, or the release of an egg from the ovaries. This can help boost fertility for females who have difficulty conceiving due to issues with ovulation.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved clomiphene citrate for the treatment of infertility in females. However, doctors sometimes also prescribe clomiphene citrate off-label for treating males with infertility.
“Off-label” means that the FDA have not approved this particular use of the drug.
Clomiphene citrate can cause side effects in some people. These can include:
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- problems with vision
- dizziness
- stomach pain or discomfort
- mouth ulcers
- cataracts
- breast growth
If a person experiences side effects from taking clomiphene citrate, they should seek medical advice. A doctor may advise that they stop taking the drug or lower the dosage.
Some males may choose to take clomiphene citrate because they believe that it will improve mood, enhance their performance during exercise, or increase energy.
Doctors sometimes prescribe it off-label as an alternative option for people who cannot take testosterone therapy. Because clomiphene citrate increases testosterone levels, it may help improve symptoms of hypogonadism in some people.
Other male fertility treatments
Treatment for male infertility depends on the underlying cause, but it can include medications and surgery. If successful, these treatments will help a person conceive naturally.
Some causes of male infertility and the medications that a doctor may recommend for them include:
For some causes of male infertility, a doctor may recommend surgery. This can include:
The cause of male infertility is not always clear, and treatment with drugs or surgery may not be effective.
In such cases, a doctor may recommend assisted reproductive technology. These methods can bring egg and sperm together to create an embryo without sex.
Some common examples include:
- Intrauterine insemination. This involves taking a male’s sperm and placing it directly into a female’s uterus to fertilize an egg.
- In vitro fertilization. This involves a healthcare provider bringing sperm and egg together in a laboratory to create an embryo and then placing it into a person’s uterus.
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This involves injecting an egg with a single sperm to create an embryo and then placing it into a person’s uterus.
Summary
Clomiphene citrate is a medication for treating infertility in females. Although the FDA have not approved clomiphene citrate for treating males with infertility, doctors sometimes choose to prescribe it off-label for this use.
In some males, clomiphene citrate may boost fertility, but it is not clear whether it works for all males.
Scientists now need to carry out more studies to fully understand the how taking clomiphene citrate affects males hormones and fertility.
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