I would like to know the side effects and risks of taking Clomid.

Cheryl

The risks of clomiphene are minor, and the incidence of these problems are rare. The most common side effects are headache, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes and visual disturbances.

Repeated use month after month, without a check of the ovaries at the beginning of the month, can miss enlarged, overstimulated cystic ovaries. Ovarian hyperstimulation can result in severe pain or twisting and compression of the ovarian blood vessels, sometimes resulting in loss of the ovary. This problem can be avoided by a simple pelvic exam or ultrasound at the start of each treatment cycle. Unfortunately, many physicians do not perform this simple step.

Another risk is multiple births. Twins occur in up to 10-12 percent of pregnancies on clomiphene. Triplets or more are seen in 1 percent or fewer clomiphene pregnancies.

A few years ago, a few articles in the medical literature suggested a possible increased risk of cancer in women who have used clomiphene. Further studies, using much larger samples and better statistical techniques, find no such cancer risk associated with ovulation induction using any medication.