What are the side effects of Clomid (clomiphene citrate)?

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From the Guidelines

Clomid (clomiphene citrate) commonly causes several side effects while being used for fertility treatment, including hot flashes, mood swings, breast tenderness, nausea, headaches, and abdominal bloating or discomfort, as well as more severe risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple pregnancies 1.

Common Side Effects

The most frequent side effects of Clomid include:

  • Hot flashes
  • Mood swings
  • Breast tenderness
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Abdominal bloating or discomfort Some women may also experience visual disturbances, such as blurred vision or seeing spots, which should prompt immediate discontinuation of the medication 1.

Severe Risks

Clomid can also cause:

  • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), characterized by severe abdominal pain, bloating, and rapid weight gain
  • Multiple pregnancies (twins or more), which occur in about 5-8% of Clomid users due to the medication's stimulation of multiple egg release These side effects occur because Clomid blocks estrogen receptors in the brain, tricking the body into producing more follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) to stimulate ovulation 1.

Less Common Side Effects

Less common side effects of Clomid include:

  • Hair thinning
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Insomnia Most side effects resolve after stopping the medication, which is typically taken for 5 days early in the menstrual cycle at doses of 50-100mg daily 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

OVERDOSAGE Signs and Symptoms Toxic effects accompanying acute overdosage of clomiphene citrate have not been reported. Signs and symptoms of overdosage as a result of the use of more than the recommended dose during clomiphene citrate therapy include nausea, vomiting, vasomotor flushes, visual blurring, spots or flashes, scotomata, ovarian enlargement with pelvic or abdominal pain. The side effects of clomid (clomiphene citrate) include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Vasomotor flushes
  • Visual blurring
  • Spots or flashes
  • Scotomata
  • Ovarian enlargement with pelvic or abdominal pain 2

From the Research

Side Effects of Clomid

  • Mood swings: A study published in 1991 found that 9 out of 14 women using Clomid experienced mood swings 3.
  • Irritability: Women taking Clomid reported irritability as a side effect, with 77.8% of women in the Clomid group reporting at least one side effect 4.
  • Feeling down: Clomid users also reported feeling down, with a higher frequency of this side effect in the human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) group compared to the Clomid group 4.
  • Bloating: Bloating was another common side effect reported by women taking Clomid, with a higher mean number of side effects reported in the hMG group 4.

Psychological Side Effects

  • Anxiety: While there was no significant difference in mean state and trait anxiety scores among the Clomid, hMG, and no medication groups, women taking fertility drugs who reported more side effects had higher mean scores of state and trait anxiety 4.
  • Frequency of side effects: The frequency of side effects reported by women taking Clomid was high, with 77.8% of women in the Clomid group reporting at least one side effect, and a mean number of side effects reported as 4.4 +/- 3.7 4.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

3
Research

Clomiphene-induced mood swings.

Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN, 1991

4
Research

Psychological side-effects of clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotrophin.

Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology, 2005

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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