Enclomiphene is the trans-isomer of clomiphene citrate, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). It acts primarily as an estrogen receptor antagonist in the hypothalamus, blocking estrogen’s negative feedback.
This leads to:
- ↑ GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) secretion
- ↑ LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) release
- ↑ Endogenous testosterone production in males
- Stimulated ovulation in females (via increased FSH/LH)
Unlike the cis-isomer (zuclomiphene), which has more estrogenic effects, enclomiphene is more purely anti-estrogenic and is responsible for most of clomiphene’s ovulation-inducing action.