The nurse informs a client of the risk of multiple pregnancies after reviewing her prescription. Which medication might have been prescribed?

Clomiphene is a medication used primarily in the treatment of infertility and ovulation disorders. It works as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), which stimulates the release of hormones necessary for ovulation by blocking estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus. This action prompts the pituitary gland to increase the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which can lead to the development of multiple eggs in the ovaries.

The stimulation of multiple follicles can significantly increase the likelihood of multiple pregnancies, such as twins or higher-order multiples, making it essential for healthcare providers to inform patients about this risk before starting treatment. While other medications listed may also be used in fertility treatment, clomiphene is especially noted for its association with an increased risk of multiple gestations due to its method of inducing ovulation by encouraging the production of more than one egg.

In contrast, while gonadotropins can also lead to multiple pregnancies, they are administered through injections and generally involve a different mechanism and monitoring process. Folic acid is a vitamin important for fetal development but does not influence the number of pregnancies, and letrozole, although it can also induce ovulation, tends to be associated with