Clomid challenge test

The clomid challenge test is an evaluation of female hormone levels used to determine fertility in a woman. The test utilizes the commonly known fertility drug Clomid (which is the brand name for the chemical drug clomiphene citrate), to raise the chances of finding women with decreased ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve is the term used to refer to a woman’s chance of conceiving, so a woman with decreased ovarian reserve would be considered to have a lesser chance of conceiving than what is considered normal. This test is also commonly known as clomid challenge, the clomiphene challenge test, the clomiphene citrate challenge or simply CCCT.

The clomid challenge test looks primarily at a hormone called FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone). FSH is normally produced to stimulate the ovaries to develop follicles which contain eggs.  Generally, there will be a small increase in FSH levels at the time that the woman is taking clomid as this is what increases the chance of conception. However, this increased FSH hormone level also causes the ovaries to produce suppressing hormones and the FSH levels then decline. By day 10 of the clomid challenge test, the FSH levels should be suppressed down to the normal range. If the FSH level remains high at day 10, it is considered abnormal and a high FSH at this stage of the test is considered a sign of poor ovarian reserve.

• For example, a twenty five year woman who has an abnormal clomid challenge test is thought to have a decreased number of eggs remaining in the ovaries. This deduction is made due to the fact of her age whereas a post-menopause woman, aged a lot older would be expected to have high FSH levels as they are no longer fertile. Most eggs are lost through a continual process of degeneration however, the rate of degeneration may be faster in some women for unknown reasons.

This test can help to determine whether this decreased number of eggs or increased rate of degeneration of eggs is a factor for a particular woman. Other factors can affect the number of eggs including smoking, which is often associated with an abnormal clomid challenge test and is thought to damage or destroy eggs. Also, if a woman has had surgery on her ovaries, this can reduce the number of eggs as well. 

The clomid challenge test can be helpful in determining a woman’s ovarian reserve, and it is highly recommended that upon detection of any problems, that any woman wanting to increase her chances of pregnancy seek information and advice from our very own Pregnancy Miracle system available for purchase right here at Pregnancy Central.