Male fertility drugs

There are no FDA approved drugs to help men to produce healthy sperm. However, some specialists do prescribe them to treat fertility problems in men, caused by hormonal imbalances, or inferior quality or poor motility of the sperm. Though these are the same as the drugs used to cure fertility problems in women, they enjoy a lower success rate in men.

 

Two popular drugs used to treat fertility problems in men include:

• Clomiphene: This drug causes the pituitary gland to secrete hormones, which encourage the testicles to produce sperm. It is available in the form of a pill to be taken daily for three to six months.

• Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG): This drug works by inducing the testicles to produce testosterone and sperm. It is given as an injection, twice or thrice a week, for a period of six months. It is sometimes given along with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG).

Side effects

The use of clomiphene and hMG to treat male infertility can cause side effects, including blurred vision, breast enlargement, and weight gain. Less commonly, clomiphene has also been known to cause liver damage.