Side Effects of Clomiphene

Common side effects of clomiphene may include breast pain, enlarged ovaries, and hot flashes. There are also a number of less common but more serious side effects that you should report to your healthcare provider immediately, including changes in vision, severe abdominal pain, or allergic reactions. Other rare but possible clomiphene side effects that have been documented in less than 1 percent of patients include depression, constipation, vaginal dryness, and fatigue.

 

Side Effects of Clomiphene: An Introduction

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with clomiphene citrate (Clomid®). However, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate clomiphene well. When people do develop side effects, in most cases they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(The clomiphene side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with the medicine. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of clomiphene side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects With Clomiphene

Clomiphene has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials, with many women having been evaluated.
 In these studies, side effects occurring in the group of people taking the drug were documented and compared to the side effects that occurred in a similar group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
 
Based on these studies, the most common clomiphene side effects include:
 
  • Enlargement of the ovaries -- up to 13.6 percent of women
  • Hot flashes -- up to 10.4 percent
  • Abdominal (stomach) or pelvic pain or bloating -- up to 5.5 percent
  • Upset stomach (nausea) or vomiting -- up to 2.2 percent
  • Breast pain -- up to 2.1 percent
  • Headache -- up to 1.5 percent
  • Abnormal menstrual bleeding, including spotting between periods or long, heavy periods -- up to 1.3 percent.
     
(Side Effects of Clomiphene Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;