Mini review: The FDA‐approved prescription drugs that induce ovulation in women with ovulatory problems

Abstract

Infertility is defined as not being able to become pregnant after 12 months or more of unprotected sexual intercourse. Female infertility as a serious health issue can result from ovulation disorders, menstrual cycle problems, structural problems, and environmental factors. Ovulation occurs once a month between the time of menarche and menopause. The release of a mature egg from the ovary is controlled with the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovarian axis. Several hormones such as gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH), FSH (follicle‐stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), estrogen, and progesterone play fundamental roles in the ovulation process. Both FSH and LH are the main treatment for women with ovulation disorders. Depending on the reasons for infertility, several different types of treatment are available for infertile women. Fertility drugs as an important part of treatment work like the natural hormones to treat infertility. Several fertility drugs can regulate ovulation and the release of an egg from the ovary in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. This mini‐review is about the FDA‐approved prescription drugs that induce ovulation in women with ovulatory problems.

Bromocriptine therapy: Review of mechanism of action, safety and tolerability

“…Bromocriptine has also been found effective in galactorrhea, amenorrhea and subfertility, even in women with normal prolactin levels, and when used as an adjunct treatment with clomiphene, a return to cyclical ovarian activity has been observed in normo‐prolactinemic women having polycystic ovarian syndrome 61–63 . Furthermore, recent studies suggests the usefulness of bromocriptine in patients with the risk of thrombotic complications because of elevated prolactin level, as elevated prolactin levels in prolactinoma are accompanied with increased platelet counts, tissue Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 and fibrinogen as well as decreased tissue factor pathway inhibitor, leading to potential hypofibrinolytic and hypercoagulable state, that augment the risk for atherothrombotic and atherosclerotic complications 64,65 …”

The Influence of Diet on Ovulation Disorders in Women—A Narrative Review

“…However, female infertility is commonly associated with ovulation disorders. They are mostly due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is currently viewed as one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age [2,3]. It was estimated that 80% of women with PCOS experience ovulation disorders that contribute to problems with conception [4].…”