Parlodel (Bromocriptine) is mainly used to
treat disorders that result from high levels of the hormone
prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is produced by the pituitary
gland in the brain. Bromocriptine decreases the production of
prolactin from the pituitary by stimulating dopamine receptors.
A high prolactin level is associated with several conditions.
Over-production of this hormone can cause abnormal production of
breast milk in both men and women (galactorrhoea), as well as
suppression of the sexual glands (hypogonadism), which can result
in infertility. High prolactin levels are also associated with
some breast and menstrual disorders. Reducing prolactin levels
with bromocriptine can therefore improve these conditions.
Clomiphene citrate (CC, Clomid, Serophene) is
often the first fertility drug that couples come in contact with.
It is (relatively) inexpensive as fertility drugs go, it is
easily taken (orally rather than by injection) and it is the
first line drug used for ovulation induction in patients with
PCOS and other ovulatory disorders. It has been used for patients
with luteal phase defect. It can also be used to assess ovarian
reserve or, in other words, the likelihood that a woman's ovaries
can still produce viable eggs. Clomid is not useful for women
whose ovaries have reached the end of their working life.
Clomid is actually quite a potent and somewhat complicated
medication. It is capable of reacting with all of the tissues in
the body that have estrogen receptors.
These tissues include hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary,
endometrium, vagina, and cervix. Clomid influences the way that
the four hormones required for ovulation, GnRH, FSH, LH and
Estradiol, relate and interrelate. While we do not completely
understand the mechanisms by which this drug works, in essence it
appears that Clomid fools the body into believing that the
estrogen level is low. This altered feedback information causes
the hypothalamus (an area of the brain) to make and release more
gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) which in turn causes the
pituitary to make and release more FSH and LH. More follicle
stimulating hormone and more luteinizing hormone should result in
the release of one or more mature eggs, i.e. ovulation.
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