Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are compounds that bind withestrogen receptors and exhibit estrogen action in some tissues and anti-estrogenaction in other tissues. SERMs are used for the menopausal woman as analternative to estrogen replacement and by infertile women for ovulation induction.Although SERMs may not be closely related chemically to the estrogen, peoplesometimes use the term "designer estrogen" to describe them.