What Should I Ask My Doctor Before Taking Fertility Medication?

Fertility medication is usually one of the first steps in infertility treatment. Before jumping in, schedule a thorough conversation with your doctor to learn more about each prescribed medication for fertility. Being informed will help you feel more in control during this journey. Not sure what to ask? These questions can help get you started.

What is the Purpose of This Fertility Medication?

Reproductive Endocrinologists (REs) specialize in infertility, so they’re experts in medication for fertility. They may forget that you aren’t! Ask your RE, Pharmacist or nurse to break down each fertility medication, detailing why they have prescribed it for your specific situation. You may have a long list of fertility medications, so we recommend taking notes during the appointment.

Are There Side Effects to these Medications for Fertility?

Taking fertility medications may seem easy, but fair warning: you may experience adverse side effects. Get more information about potential side effects that you can expect from certain fertility medications, including:

  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Breast tenderness
  • Mood swings
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
  • Increased risk of pregnancy loss

Inform your RE about any family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Your family history could impact whether or not you should take certain fertility medications.

Is There a Generic Version of This Fertility Medication?

There are no generic versions for the stimulation medications, but some oral medications have options. Many medical insurance policies do not include infertility treatment. To help cut costs during this expensive process, ask your RE or fertility pharmacy about lower priced options for fertility. You can also investigate fertility medication discount programs

Can I Order Fertility Medications from Outside the U.S.?

No, it’s illegal to import medications for fertility. International fertility medications likely do not have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and therefore cannot be certified for safe use. The safety or efficacy of these products cannot be verified as the storage and transit is not properly regulated.  Reports of medication being ineffective have been registered by physicians whose patients ordered from outside the country.

What’s the Right Way to Take this Fertility Medication?

Confirm with your RE and fertility pharmacy the dosing, storage requirements, and expiration for each prescription. Ask if fertility medications should be taken orally, vaginally (such as progesterone), or by injection and any impact on its effectiveness.

Read our recommendations for safe medication handling.

What’s the Right Way to Give an Injection?

Your Clinic and fertility pharmacy, Mandell’s,  can provide tips and tricks to administer subcutaneous or intramuscular injections safely:

  • Log into Mandell’s PharmAssist program at MyMandellsPharmacy.com for instructional videos. Our patients can call us at 877-252-0553 to consult a pharmacist with any questions.
  • Ask a nurse to demonstrate the proper technique and mark the best location for fertility medication injections.
  • Use a cold washcloth before the shot and a warm cloth afterward to minimize discomfort and help enhance absorption.
  • For deeper intramuscular injections, pull back on the plunger before completion. If blood appears, swap out the needle and try a new site.
  • Avoid using sore injection sites that are warm to the touch.

What Happens if I Miss a dose of Fertility medication?

Call your doctor if you miss a dose of fertility medication . They can advise you on the next steps for continuing treatment. You should never double the next dose or try to play catch-up without consulting your doctor.

Turn to a Specialty Fertility Pharmacy

Mandell’s Clinical Pharmacy has a team of experts available 24/7 to oversee your fertility medication regimen. We are here to serve as a trusted infertility resource.

Need more guidance? Watch our videos on administering fertility medications