What Clomid is

Active ingredient: Clomiphene (also written as clomifene).

Typical strengths available: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg tablets.

Related health areas: fertility and women's health; sometimes discussed in sport and post cycle therapy (PCT) contexts (see sport/PCT notes).

Clomid is a prescription-only selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) used primarily to help induce ovulation in people who ovulate irregularly or not at all and are trying to conceive. For an overview of how it works, jump to How it works.

How it works and common use

Clomiphene blocks estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus and pituitary. This releases the brake on gonadotropin production, increasing FSH and LH, which can trigger the ovary to mature and release an egg. The goal is to create a predictable ovulation window to time intercourse or intrauterine insemination.

In plain terms, Clomid can increase the chance of pregnancy by helping your body release an egg. Monitoring ovulation signs and timing intercourse are essential; see Before you start for planning tips.

How to take it

Always follow the exact plan your clinician prescribes. Clomiphene is taken by mouth with water, at consistent times each day, typically for a short course in each cycle. Many patients use it for 5 days per cycle, but your schedule may be different.

Your care team will advise you when to start within your menstrual cycle, how to track ovulation, and how long to continue therapy. Do not change your dose, repeat cycles, or extend treatment without medical advice.

Most benefit appears within the first 3 cycles; treatment is commonly limited to about 6 total cycles. If you think you may be pregnant, stop taking doses and contact your prescriber right away.

Before you start: planning and precautions

  • Know your timing. Learn when you are likely to ovulate so you can time intercourse or insemination appropriately. Your clinician may recommend hormone blood tests or home urine LH kits.
  • Keep all follow-up appointments. Monitoring helps confirm ovulation and reduces the chance of complications like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
  • Use is short term. If ovulation or pregnancy does not occur after several cycles, your clinician may recommend alternative strategies (see Alternatives).
  • Report pregnancy promptly. Do not continue clomiphene if you become pregnant.

Who should not use it

Clomiphene is not appropriate for everyone. Tell your prescriber if any of the below apply:

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been evaluated
  • Liver disease
  • Known or suspected pregnancy
  • Adrenal gland disorders
  • Breast-feeding
  • Ovarian cysts not due to polycystic ovary syndrome
  • History of blood clots or significant vascular disease
  • Endometriosis
  • Pituitary tumors or other pituitary disease
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Allergy to clomiphene or any tablet ingredient

Possible side effects

Seek urgent care for serious reactions:

  • Allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
  • Visual changes (blurred vision, spots, flashes)
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: pelvic or abdominal pain, rapid weight gain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Severe upper abdominal pain radiating to the back, fever, nausea, or vomiting that could suggest pancreatitis

More common and usually mild effects (tell your clinician if persistent or bothersome):

  • Hot flashes
  • Headache
  • Breast tenderness
  • Irregular bleeding or spotting

There is also a higher chance of multiple pregnancy with clomiphene compared with natural cycles. Discuss risks and monitoring with your clinician in the planning section.

Drug and supplement interactions

Provide your prescriber with a complete list of medicines and supplements. Items that may interact include:

  • Herbals like black cohosh, blue cohosh, and chasteberry
  • Prasterone (DHEA; also labeled as dehydroepiandrosterone)
  • Other fertility drugs or hormones that affect the reproductive axis

This list is not complete. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist and review this section again before starting new therapies. Jump back to top.

If you miss a dose

Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for the next scheduled dose. If it is close to the next dose, skip the missed one and resume your regular schedule. Do not double up.

In case of overdose

If you think you have taken too much clomiphene, contact a poison control center or seek emergency medical care at once.

Storage tips

  • Keep out of reach of children.
  • Store at room temperature, about 59 to 86 F (15 to 30 C).
  • Protect from heat, light, and moisture.
  • Dispose of any tablets remaining after the expiration date according to local guidance.

Alternatives and similar medicines

If clomiphene is not suitable or not effective, clinicians may consider the following. Pricing notes and legal status are summarized in Prices and Legal status.

  • Letrozole (Femara): An aromatase inhibitor often preferred over clomiphene for ovulation induction in PCOS; may yield higher live birth rates and lower multiple gestation risk in some patients.
  • Gonadotropins (FSH, hMG, hCG): Injectable hormones used with close monitoring; higher success rates in some cases but also higher costs and risk of multiples/OHSS.
  • Tamoxifen: Another SERM sometimes used off label for ovulation induction when clomiphene is not tolerated.
  • Metformin: Not an ovulation drug, but in insulin-resistant PCOS it can improve ovulatory function and is sometimes combined with letrozole or clomiphene.
  • Enclomiphene citrate: The isolated trans isomer of clomiphene; explored off label particularly in men for secondary hypogonadism. Availability varies and is often via compounding.

Approximate prices in the USA (USD)

Retail prices vary widely by pharmacy, geography, and use of discount programs. The ranges below are rough cash estimates for a typical single-cycle quantity as of recent years:

  • Clomiphene (generic): about $7 to $60 for 10 tablets of 50 mg. A common single cycle total is roughly $10 to $80 depending on dose and pharmacy discount.
  • Brand Clomid: brand availability is limited; when stocked, it is usually far more expensive than generic (often over $200 per cycle if available).
  • Letrozole (generic 2.5 mg): often $5 to $30 for 10 tablets; a cycle typically $5 to $40.
  • Tamoxifen (generic): frequently $5 to $25 for a cycle's worth, depending on strength.
  • Metformin (generic): very low cost, commonly under $10 per month.
  • Gonadotropin injections (FSH/hMG, with or without hCG): commonly $500 to $2,000+ per cycle, not including monitoring and procedures.
  • Enclomiphene (compounded): pricing varies widely; often $100 to $250+ per month from compounding pharmacies.

Note: Insurance coverage for fertility medications is inconsistent. Some states mandate certain infertility benefits, but medication and cycle coverage vary by plan. See legal notes.

Notes on sport and PCT

Clomiphene is sometimes discussed in bodybuilding or post cycle therapy to counter suppression after anabolic steroid use. This is an off-label use, carries medical risks, and may be illegal or sanctionable under sporting rules. WADA and many professional leagues list clomiphene as a banned substance. Athletes should consult their organization's anti-doping code. For safe use information applicable to fertility treatment, review precautions and side effects.