Fertomid: What It Is, How It Works, and What You Need to Know

When you're trying to get pregnant and ovulation isn't happening right, Fertomid, a brand name for clomiphene citrate, a medication that stimulates ovulation by tricking the brain into producing more fertility hormones. Also known as clomiphene citrate, it's one of the most prescribed starting points for couples facing unexplained infertility or irregular cycles. Unlike surgery or IVF injections, Fertomid is taken orally, usually for just 5 days early in your cycle. It doesn’t add hormones—it tells your body to make more of its own.

Fertomid works by blocking estrogen receptors in the brain. When the brain thinks estrogen levels are low, it signals the pituitary gland to release more FSH and LH—two hormones that tell the ovaries to grow and release an egg. This is called ovulation induction, a medical process used to stimulate egg development in women who don’t ovulate regularly. It’s not for everyone. If your ovaries are already exhausted, or if you have liver issues or ovarian cysts, your doctor will skip this step. But for many women with PCOS or mild hormonal imbalances, Fertomid is the first real shot at getting pregnant without needles or big costs.

People often mix up Fertomid with other fertility drugs like letrozole or gonadotropins. Letrozole, for example, is now preferred in some clinics because it has fewer side effects and slightly higher live birth rates in women with PCOS. But Fertomid still holds its ground—it’s cheaper, widely available, and has decades of real-world use behind it. Side effects? Mild: hot flashes, mood swings, bloating. Rarely, it causes multiple pregnancies or ovarian hyperstimulation. That’s why tracking with ultrasounds and ovulation tests is key.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just a list of drug comparisons. It’s a practical guide to how Fertomid fits into the bigger picture of fertility treatment. You’ll see how it stacks up against other ovulation drugs, what real users report, and how to spot when it’s time to move on. You’ll also find related topics—like how prolactin imbalances (treated with cabergoline) can block ovulation even when you’re on Fertomid, or how diet and inflammation affect your chances of success. This isn’t theory. These are the real connections women and their doctors make when trying to build a family.