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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic
STUDIES SAY FERTILITY DRUG DOESN’T INCREASE RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I wanted to know if any research has been done on the effects of Clomid on the children conceived using this medication. I have searched and searched for information and gotten nowhere. — Indiana
ANSWER: Clomid is a brand name for clomiphene citrate, a commonly used fertility drug. (Clomiphene citrate is also is sold under the brand name Serophene.) The drug causes the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which set off ovulation. It’s often prescribed for women who have polycystic ovary disease or other disorders that interfere with ovulation.
Research has been done to determine if clomiphene citrate has any effects on children. In particular, several studies have examined the possibility of a link between clomiphene citrate and neural-tube defects. Neural-tube defects result from improper development of the brain or spinal cord. The most common neural-tube defect is spina bifida, a condition that occurs when the tissue surrounding the developing spinal cord doesn’t close properly. The most recent studies found no increased risk of neural-tube defects in the children of women who took clomiphene citrate.
Several studies also have been done to assess the risk of childhood cancer among children conceived using ovulation-stimulating drugs, such as clomiphene citrate. Again, the findings indicated no increased risk.
Overall, no current research has found that a child conceived with the help of clomiphene citrate has a higher risk of birth defects, childhood disease or developmental disorders.
That said, it’s wise to keep in mind that no drug is risk-free. For example, clomiphene citrate has been shown to be associated with a higher chance of having a multiple pregnancy (usually twins, rarely triplets or more), which obviously brings additional health considerations of its own.
If you are considering taking clomiphene citrate to treat infertility, talk with your doctor about any concerns you may have, and ask him or her to discuss the possible risk factors and side effects. By being well-informed, you can make a decision that’s right for you.
— Andrew Good, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Additional Resources:
Treatment of Infertility
Appointment Information
More Information on Infertility
READERS: Fibromyalgia patients treated with six sessions of acupuncture experienced significant symptomatic improvement compared to a group given simulated acupuncture sessions, according to a new Mayo Clinic study.
“This study shows there is something real about acupuncture and its effects on fibromyalgia,” says David Martin, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist and the study’s lead investigator. “Our study was performed on patients with moderate to severe fibromyalgia. It’s my speculation that if acupuncture works for these patients with recalcitrant fibromyalgia — where previous treatments had not provided satisfactory relief — it would likely work for many of the millions of fibromyalgia patients.”
Acupuncture could fill a gap in available therapies for the disease as something additive to what medications already can provide, says Dr. Martin.
“There’s not a cure available, so patients are often left somewhat frustrated by continuing pain and fatigue,” he says. “Acupuncture is one of the few things shown to be effective for these symptoms. It may be particularly attractive to patients who are unable to take medications because of intolerable side effects.”
The study included 50 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia for whom other symptom-relief treatments were ineffective. The patients were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture or simulated acupuncture and were not informed which treatment they received; these treatments were administered in six sessions over two to three weeks.
All patients were given questionnaires before treatment, immediately after treatment, and at one and seven months after treatment to determine the degree of symptoms they experienced and how the disease affected their daily lives.
Patients who received acupuncture experienced minimal side effects. Following treatments, symptoms of pain, fatigue and anxiety were most significantly improved in the patients given acupuncture. At seven months post-treatment, the patients’ symptoms of pain, anxiety and fatigue had returned to baseline levels; the patients experienced the largest improvement at one month following treatment.
Additional Resources:
Information on Fibromyalgia
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© 2005 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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