Psychological side-effects of clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotrophin.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the psychological side-effects of clomiphene citrate (CC) and hMG in women undergoing fertility treatment.


METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional, self-report survey of 454 women at various stages of treatment for infertility. At the time of study, 139 women had not taken fertility drugs and 315 women had taken one or more cycles of CC or hMG. All subjects were asked to complete the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Women taking CC or hMG were also asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire on the side-effects of their medications.


RESULTS
In the CC group (n = 162) and hMG group (n = 153), 77.8% (126 of 162) and 94.8% (145 of 153) reported at least one side-effect, respectively. Irritability, mood swings, feeling down, and bloating had high frequencies in both CC and hMG groups, with a higher mean number of side effects reported in the hMG group (4.4 +/- 3.7 for the CC group and 6.8 +/- 3.7 for the hMG group, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference among the CC, hMG and no medication groups for mean state and trait anxiety scores. However, there were significant differences among the three side-effect groups (those who reported 1 to 4, 5 to 7, and more than 7 side-effects) for the mean scores of state (df = 2, F = 8.7, p < 0.001) and trait (df = 2, F = 11.9, p < 0.001) anxiety in women taking fertility drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Women taking CC or hMG reported high frequencies of psychological side-effects, and should be advised of these before treatment.
Choi
So-Hyun
SH
Women's Health Program, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. cshi@unitel.co.kr
Shapiro
Heather
H
Robinson
Gail E
GE
Irvine
Jane
J
Neuman
Jan
J
Rosen
Barry
B
Murphy
Joan
J
Stewart
Donna
D
D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D002996:Clomiphene