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A physician may prescribe Clomid for men with low sperm counts
The physicians at Texas Fertility Center want patients to know that male factor infertility is just as common as female infertility. Many factors can cause fertility issues in men, including structural problems and hormonal imbalances. As a result, there are many treatments available to address the causes of male factor infertility.
One treatment is clomiphene citrate, or Clomid, a medication that our Austin fertility specialists also use to treat female infertility. Physicians suggest Clomid for men with low sperm counts.
Clomid for men is used when a low sperm count is caused by low testosterone levels
In some men, a low sperm count is caused by a low testosterone level. It might seem logical to give more testosterone to a man with a low testosterone level; however, doing so can actually decrease his sperm count. A similar situation exists in women, as birth control pills with estrogen prevent egg development and ovulation.
A 1999 clinical study at Texas Fertility Center found that Clomid caused a statistically significant increase in sperm concentration. In some cases, the increase was so great that couples who initially had no alternative other than IVF were able to conceive with IUI instead.
Instead of prescribing testosterone to treat male factor infertility, physicians will prescribe Clomid, the same drug that our Austin fertility specialists give to women to help them ovulate. In both men and women, Clomid binds to receptors in the brain to increase the production of follicle stimulating hormone, FSH, and luteinizing hormone, LH.
- In women, FSH and LH induce egg development and ovulation.
- In men, FSH leads to an increase in sperm production and LH leads to an increase in testosterone production.
Treatment with Clomid looks different for men and women
While men and women can both benefit from taking Clomid, the treatment regimen is different. Our Austin fertility specialists recommend that a woman take Clomid for five days at the beginning of her cycle. However, a man will need to take Clomid every day, because sperm production occurs daily. The typical starting dose for a man is 25mg of Clomid, or half of a pill, each day.
A man can over-respond to Clomid by making too much testosterone. Since this can decrease his sperm count, it is important to reassess the man’s hormone levels a few weeks after he begins taking the drug. If his level of testosterone is too high, he can take half of a pill every other day.
It takes 90 to 108 days from the time that sperm is produced in the testicles until it is ejaculated, so it takes time for a man to see results from Clomid. As such, a man should not stop taking the medication unless there is no improvement by the fourth month of treatment.
If you would like to learn more about fertility options for men at Texas Fertility Center, please contact us today to schedule an appointment. We are your family-building experts.
