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No. 060medication

Clomiphene

Clomiphene is a medication that is FDA-approved, prescription only.

Also known as Clomid, clomiphene citrate, Serophene

Clomiphene blocks estrogen's feedback signal in the brain, so the pituitary releases more of the hormones that drive ovulation. It has been used for fertility since the 1960s. In men, clinicians sometimes prescribe it off-label to raise their own testosterone while keeping sperm production.

A clinician's hands in a white coat holding a stethoscope against a bright, clean white background; no face visible.
FDA-approved · Prescription

Is Clomiphene FDA-approved?

Approved by the FDA. A licensed clinician has to decide it is right for you and prescribe it. FDA-approved, prescription only, for ovulatory dysfunction in women trying to get pregnant. The original Clomid application is discontinued, but Clomid-branded and generic clomiphene labels remain listed on DailyMed. Use in men is off-label.

As of October 7, 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Clomiphene (Clomid) is an FDA-approved prescription pill for ovulatory problems in women trying to get pregnant.
  • For PCOS, the 2023 international guideline now recommends letrozole over clomiphene.
  • About 8% of pregnancies in the label data were twins or more.
  • In men it is an off-label option to raise their own testosterone while keeping fertility.

How does Clomiphene work?

Clomiphene blocks estrogen receptors in the brain. The brain reads that as low estrogen and releases more GnRH, which tells the pituitary to release more FSH and LH. In women, those hormones push the ovaries to mature and release an egg.

In men, the same rise in LH and FSH tells the testes to make more testosterone and keep making sperm, unlike testosterone therapy, which shuts that signal down. Enclomiphene is one of the two mirror-image halves of clomiphene.

A patient in a hospital gown, cropped with no face shown, beside a tablet displaying CT scan results on bright white bedding.
A clear pill bottle with a black cap, a blank white label, and cream-colored capsules against a bright pale-yellow background.
A cropped hand rests on the trackpad of a silver laptop with a completely blank white screen, on a bright minimalist white desk; no face.

Is clomiphene used for men?

Its FDA label covers women only, so use in men is off-label. The AUA testosterone deficiency guideline says clinicians may use aromatase inhibitors, hCG, selective estrogen receptor modulators such as clomiphene, or a combination, in men with low testosterone who want to keep fertility, and that testosterone should not be given to men trying to conceive. AUA: Testosterone Deficiency guideline (2018, validity confirmed 2024)

The AUA/ASRM male infertility guideline says these drugs may be used for infertile men with low testosterone, but that SERMs have limited benefits compared with assisted reproduction in unexplained male infertility. AUA/ASRM: Male Infertility guideline (2020, amended 2024)

What does the evidence say about Clomiphene?

Strong human evidence

Decades of trials support it for inducing ovulation, though the 2023 international PCOS guideline now prefers letrozole for PCOS. Evidence in men is mainly smaller studies.

What do clinicians say about Clomiphene?

Fertility specialists still use clomiphene widely, but letrozole has become the first choice for PCOS, and in men clomiphene is a fertility-sparing off-label option.

Summaries of published guidelines, drug labels, regulators and reviews, each attributed to its source. DiscoverMedica does not employ clinicians.

Is Clomiphene right for you, and who should avoid it?

Often considered for

  • Women who do not ovulate regularly and are trying to conceive, after other causes of infertility are checked
  • Men with low testosterone from a pituitary signaling problem who want to keep fertility (off-label, specialist-guided)

Not a fit, or needs extra care

  • Pregnancy
  • Liver disease, or unexplained abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Ovarian cysts other than those of polycystic ovaries
  • Uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal disease, or a pituitary tumor

Only a licensed clinician who knows your history can decide whether it is right for you.

What are the risks and side effects of Clomiphene?

  • Twins or more are more likely: about 8% of pregnancies in the label data were multiples.
  • Visual symptoms such as blurring, spots or flashes mean stopping and seeing an eye doctor.
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is rare but can be serious; report pelvic pain, swelling or shortness of breath.
  • Hot flashes, ovarian enlargement, pelvic discomfort, nausea and breast discomfort are the most common side effects.

What should you ask a clinician about Clomiphene?

  • Is clomiphene or letrozole the better first option for me?
  • How will we confirm ovulation, and how long should we try before changing plans?
  • For men: is my low testosterone the kind clomiphene can address, and how would we monitor it?

These save with the compound when you add it to My Journal, so they’re on the printout for your visit.

How do people get Clomiphene through telehealth?

A close-up of a hand typing on a dark laptop keyboard on a white desk; no face, no screen visible, softly lit.

  1. For women, clomiphene is prescribed by an OB-GYN or fertility specialist after checking ovulation and other causes of infertility.

  2. Treatment is monitored, sometimes with ultrasound or blood tests, to confirm ovulation and watch for overstimulation.

  3. For men, a urologist, endocrinologist or men's health service prescribes it off-label after confirming low testosterone with labs.

  4. Generic clomiphene is filled at retail and mail-order pharmacies.

Labs you may be asked for

  • For women: tests to confirm ovulation and assess the ovaries and tubes
  • For men: two morning total testosterone tests, LH and FSH, and often a semen analysis

What programs often include

  • Specialist review and prescription
  • Monitoring of response and side effects

Check your levels first

Some services let you order common lab tests yourself, so the results are ready for your visit. Your clinician decides which labs, if any, you need, and what the results mean.

  • Function HealthAnnual membership for broad lab panels, drawn at Quest sites or at home.
    Visit
  • Quest HealthOrder individual lab tests from Quest Diagnostics online, without a doctor’s visit.
    Visit

From each service’s own site, checked September 23, 2026.

How some providers do it

From each provider’s own site, checked October 7, 2026. Programs change, so confirm the details before you sign up.

Where can I get Clomiphene?

4 providers list Clomiphene on DiscoverMedica, lowest listed price first.

Hone HealthCompounded clomiphene citrate
Compounded, not FDA-approvedLowest listed priceClinician consult required
From $38/mo + membershiplisted price†
Start at Hone Health
Amazon PharmacyClomiphene citrate tablet (generic Clomid)
Clinician consult required
see site
Start at Amazon Pharmacy
Mark Cuban Cost Plus DrugsClomid (clomiphene citrate) tablets
Clinician consult required
see site
Start at Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs
Rex MDClomid (clomiphene citrate tablet)
Clinician consult required
see site
Start at Rex MD

† Prices as listed by the provider when we checked; they change.

How much does Clomiphene cost?

The listed price is $38 a month, from 1 provider, as checked October 7, 2026.

Prices as listed by the provider when we checked; they change. Membership or consult fees may be separate; see each provider.

Clomiphene: questions, answered

What are the side effects of clomiphene?

In the Clomid label studies, the most common were ovarian enlargement, hot flashes, abdominal or pelvic discomfort, nausea, breast discomfort, visual symptoms, headache and abnormal bleeding. Visual changes such as blurring or flashes mean stopping and seeing an eye doctor. Severe pelvic pain, swelling or shortness of breath can signal ovarian hyperstimulation and need urgent care.

Does clomiphene increase the chance of twins?

Yes. In the Clomid label data, about 8% of reported pregnancies were multiples: roughly 6.9% twins and smaller shares of triplets or more. That is higher than in natural conception. Monitoring helps clinicians spot when many follicles are developing, so ask how your clinic will watch for this before you start.

Is clomiphene or letrozole better for PCOS?

The 2023 international PCOS guideline strongly recommends letrozole over clomiphene for women with PCOS whose infertility is due to not ovulating, because letrozole led to more ovulation, pregnancies and live births in trials. Using letrozole this way is off-label in the US. Clomiphene remains an approved option and may suit other situations.

Can men take clomiphene for low testosterone?

It is used off-label. The AUA testosterone deficiency guideline allows selective estrogen receptor modulators such as clomiphene for men with low testosterone who want to keep fertility, because they raise the body's own production instead of shutting it down. It needs labs to confirm the cause first and ongoing monitoring by a clinician.

Is Clomid still available?

Drugs@FDA lists the original 1967 Clomid application as discontinued, but a Clomid-branded product marketed under a generic application and many generic clomiphene tablets remain listed on DailyMed. In practice most prescriptions are filled with generic clomiphene citrate, which is usually inexpensive, though fertility coverage varies a lot by plan and state.

Important safety information

Key risks

  • Twins or more are more likely: about 8% of pregnancies in the label data were multiples.
  • Visual symptoms such as blurring, spots or flashes mean stopping and seeing an eye doctor.
  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is rare but can be serious; report pelvic pain, swelling or shortness of breath.
  • Hot flashes, ovarian enlargement, pelvic discomfort, nausea and breast discomfort are the most common side effects.

Talk to a clinician first, or avoid it, if

  • Pregnancy
  • Liver disease, or unexplained abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Ovarian cysts other than those of polycystic ovaries
  • Uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal disease, or a pituitary tumor

This is not a complete list of risks. Read the full prescribing information and any Medication Guide, and talk to a licensed clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. If you have a severe reaction, call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA through MedWatch at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sources

Also checked for this guide

Guide reviewed October 7, 2026.

Educational information only, not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with a licensed clinician.

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