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Short Answer Questions:

1. In my research, I found that the levels of “gonadotropins”in the body are critical to understanding how the drugs Clomid andOrtho Tri-Cyclen work. What are gonadotropins? What role do theyplay in fertility?

2. Some of the references talk about how “negative feedback”is involved in understanding how these drugs work. Can you explainwhat is meant by negative feedback?

3. My doctor told me that birth control pills contain smallamounts of estrogen and progesterone, and these hormones prevent mefrom ovulating. I don’t understand how giving me these hormones ina pill would prevent me from ovulating. I assume that it hassomething to do with the levels of the gonadotropins that I askedabout earlier. Can you explain this to me?

4. In the information about Ortho Tri-Cyclen, it mentions thatthe hormones in the pill make cervical mucus thicker and stickier.Does this happen during my natural cycle? How are estrogen andprogesterone involved in this process?   

5. My doctor also explained that birth control pills “trickthe body into thinking it is pregnant.” She explained that women donot normally ovulate when they are pregnant. Can you explain to mewhy a pregnant woman does not ovulate? How is this related to howthe birth control pill works?

6. My doctor explained that Clomid works by “tricking thebrain into thinking that estrogen levels in the body are low.” Sheexplained that this is what leads to the extra stimulation of theovaries to encourage eggs to be released. One of the references forClomid said this happens because there is less negative feedback.Can you explain to me how this “trick” and the decreased negativefeedback are related? Why would these factors lead to thestimulation of the ovaries?

7. My doctor told me that if I take Clomid, I would be takingit on days five through nine of my normal menstrual cycle. Sheexplained that this is when it will have the greatest chance ofstimulating the ovaries. What is going on during this part of themenstrual cycle that makes it the best time to take thisdrug?

8. I read an article that mentioned that women on Clomid maybe more likely to get pregnant with twins, triplets, or more! Thearticle said that normally there is a dominant follicle thatreleases a single egg, but Clomid can potentially make lots offollicles release an egg in a given month. How does Clomid dothat?