My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for about 20 months with no success. I am 33 and he is 39. We have had all the tests and nothing has been found yet to affect fertility. However, my cycles are increasingly irregular and I do have spotting both before and after my period. We have now been prescribed Clomid for 3 cycles, and I take my first pill tomorrow (Day 2-6 of cycle). I would be interested in any stories of any other women around my age, who had unexplained infertility, who had success (or not) with Clomid. Thanks!

I was going to ask what tests you've both had done to date as some are often missed. Are you NHS or private patients?. That can also be relevant as some private clinics can offer expensive but poor quality treatment.

Unexplained subfertility is infact no diagnosis at all - it means that they have failed to find out what is wrong.

Irregular cycles can cause ovulation problems and this is likely why you have been given clomid. Are you being monitored whilst on it - you should be because you have no way of knowing otherwise whether its working or not.
Have they commented on the spotting - spotting should always be checked out to ascertain the underlying cause.

The most common tests that tend to be omitted are:-

Adequate x-rays of the uterus which may show abnormalities not otherwise seen at laparoscopy.

Hysteroscopy - telescope inspection of the inside of the uterus which may occasionally show abnormalities not seen otherwise

Repeated sperm counts over several weeks and months to make sure there is no subtle abnormality

Testing the sperm in special media such as swim up testsvelocity testing. However, when they are done, they often uncover a hidden cause for the suppposed unexplained problem

Thorough hormone tests to detect abnormalities of male hormone or early falls in progesterone

Scanning of the ovaries to see if follicles really are developing and there are no sign of polycystic ovaries

Thanks for your messages - I have had a hysteroscopy, numersous blood/hormone tests, my husband has had his sperm tested twice as well. I just had a blood test this morning, before I take my first Clomid pill, to once again test my hormone levels to check if they are ok. And I will have a scan on day 9 this cycle to see what's going on.

I agree, I think unexplained fertility does mean they have failed to find out what's wrong. I think there is something wrong, but we just don't know what it is yet. I think my hormones may be out of wack (I have had adult acne for 4-5 years now), I think I may have too much testosterone or something.

I had clomid after not conceiving for about 2 years. As I had a very irregular cycle it was assumed that I wasnt ovulating (I had a 21 day blood test which backed this up). Anyway, clomid worked very well for me. I conceived on the second clomid cycle but unfortunately miscarried. After several months break (I think it was 4 months) I started taking clomid again and conceived second cycle. This was a straightforward pregnancy and resulted in the birth of my fabulaous 3 year old dd.

Btw, I conceived ds (now 7) and dd2(15 months) easily and without clomid or other intervention at all.

Have they checked to see if polycystic ovaries are the underlying cause?. (I note you mention adult acne - PCOS can be the cause in some cases).

Have they checked your LH and FSH levels properly in that they have compared these early in the cycle. Also internal ultrasound scans should be done throughout the cycle (again to see if there are signs of polycystic ovaries).

Success story from long ago as DS2 is now 16. I took Clomid after ttc for second child for around 2 years (poor ovulation) and got pregnant on the first cycle. I was 37 then.

i am due to start clomid soon just waiting for my period to make an apperance.
i am 32 have pcos haing been ttc for more than 5yrs have had a failed ivf back in 2005. i don't think i could start sticking needles and stuff in me agagin i pray this works.
Can't wait to hear from anyone going to start soon