Too Many Women Take Fertility Drugs Without Doctor's OK.

2001 JAN 18 - (NewsRx.com) -- Doctors along the Mexican border say they are concerned about the availability of fertility drugs in Mexico and warned that women subject themselves to risk of serious side effects when taking these drugs without a doctor's supervision.

The side effects include ovarian cysts, hormone imbalances, and an increased possibility of multiple births, said Dr. Kevin Davis of Davis-Simon Obstetrics and Gynecological Associates in McAllen, Texas. The pill Clomid usually is the first line in infertility drugs, prescribed for women who are struggling to conceive, but taking it without seeing a doctor first is dangerous, he said.

Clomid causes the ovaries to produce more eggs, thereby increasing a woman's chance of getting pregnant. But women with conditions like liver disease, ovarian cysts, and women who may already be pregnant should not take the tablets, he said.

The McAllen Monitor reported that visits to several pharmacies in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico found that Clomid, as well as injectable infertility drugs, could be bought without a prescription at half the cost in the United States. At one pharmacy in Nuevo Progreso, the newspaper said, a sales clerk said he sells at least 10 boxes of Clomid a month, with and without a prescription.

Doctors and ...