Clomid questions- please help!

[Tollygunge]

So, after struggling to become/stay pregnant, my consultant has advised I start 100mg of clomid this cycle. This will be totally un monitored for three months then we will discuss further monitoring. My questions are-
1- is it safe to be un monitored? He says that it totally is, very low risk drug. In worst case scenario of ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome you would go to a and e anyway.
2- I'm spotting tiny amounts of brown at the moment. This is early for me as not properly due on until tomorrow. Took hpt yesterday, which was negative. He says first day of cycle is first bit of blood you see, therefore I should start clomid this eve or tomorrow (cd 2/3) I thought cd1 was first day of full flow?! Should I wait just in case I'm pregnant (fat chance) but then can't start clomid?!
3- am I nuts to be doing clomid? Is it really fucking awful?? Will I be a huge psycho????
Can't speak to him now as he's in theatre and not taking calls today. My mind goes blank when I speak to him anyway, it's just after I have a thousand questions. Please help!!!

[Tollygunge]

Please help me lovely ladies! Doesn't help I'm naturally a super anxious person

[Tollygunge]

Anyone?

[Tollygunge]

Hello....

[Highlove]

No, it's not safe to be totally unmonitored. Partly because of OHSS, but also because you're starting on a fairly high dose and you might produce many eggs - if it's too many you ought to be advised to abstain. Octomum, anyone?

Are you ovulating already? Have you got a diagnosis? If you're ovulating already and don't have luteal phase problems then it probably won't help much. Sorry.

I've always been told that CD1 is the first day of full flow. Not when you get the first spotting. (And I've discussed with more than one consultant, fertility nurse, etc, because I always spot for a few days.)

Will you be mental? Maybe. Some people struggle with it. Personally I didn't, other than a few unpleasant hot flushes.

Is there a fertility nurse you can talk to? I find them less intimidating than I-am-God consultants.

Best of luck.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

No, you should be monitored with ideally both blood tests and ultrasounds whilst on clomid as it is quite powerful stuff. Why has this drug treatment been suggested to you anyway?. Do you have a diagnosis of the underlying problem?.

First proper day of cycle is full red flow and not spotting.

I would be asking them questions as to why you were prescribed clomid in the first place particularly if you do not have any sort of diagnosis. If you are not monitored either you have no way of knowing whether clomid is doing its job or not (its main role is to make the ovaries work harder).

Clomid can have side effects; some women do get breast discomfort.

You need really to work with a gynae consultant you can talk to; its no point whatsoever in dealing with someone who you cannot readily talk to. Its vital that the three of you can work as a team.

[Stepawayfromthezebras]

I was unmonitored on 50 mg and got pregnant first cycle after TTC for 21 months even though I was already ovulating. My fertility doc wanted me to go straight to IVF but I asked if I could try Clomid for 3 months first. I didn't have any side effects

I'm not sure if it's the Clomid that did the job or just pure dumb luck but that was my experience

[Rainy34]

I am starting 50mg of Clomid this month, and i am unmonitored, I suffer with brown spotting days before period is due and fertility doctor said to count full day of red flow, good luck!!

[Jollyjogger]

I wouldn't count a bit of brown sneering as CD1. Maybe tomorrow.

Also ask for a day 21 progesterone test each cycle to work out if the precriprion is the correct strength to make you ovulate. You might find you need 150mg? Or only 50mg

I have two clomid babies. Both cycle 4. After 3 miscarriages. The first was on 50mg tablets, the second on 100mg

[Jollyjogger]

I didn't have ultra sounds but felt confident with day 21 day progesterone tests. You can do this through your GP practice

[Tollygunge]

Thanks all! I've spoken with nurse who was very sweet and said that it's totally safe and a very low risk of multiples- 10% for twins and triplets 0.1%. Although I understand risks of multiples, I'd love twins! At the moment though I'm getting frustrated at my non appearance of period- teeny amounts of brown discharge, no cramps, nothing! Took hpt today and still negative so not much I can do. The only reason I'm holding back is in all my (failed) pregnancies so far I've had implantation bleeding and know that you test negative whilst its ongoing. Why can't anything be simple? Feeling v down today- this time two years ago was first pregnant with a baby who I ended up having to terminate at 17weeks due to disorder incompatible with life. Always thought I'd have another by now, yet here we are two years down the line

[Tollygunge]

Jollyjogger where you prescribed clomid for repeated miscarriage? Do you have any idea what was causing your miscarriages?

[Sleepyfergus]

I did Clomid about 8 years ago now, and did 14 cycles of it. I started on 50mg and it was increased to 75mg. I did fall pregnant but sadly had a mc. I wasn't monitored as such, ie no scans, but I had to take a urine sample every week, freeze it (nice!) and had them in every 4 weeks or so so they could check if I was ovulating. It all seemed a bit reactive though....some months I ovulated, other times I didn't and had to resort to taking provera to kick start a cycle. It all took forever and was very hard.

I finally went onto ovulation induction using lower doses of IVF drugs and I was closely monitored then, scans every 3 days or so. Thankfully it worked the 2nd time and that resulted in dd1.

With dd2 I had no options for fertility treatment and my cycles were still hit or miss. I used Angus Castus which you can get from Holland and Barrett. It's often referred to as natures Clomid. Anyway, I do t know if it directly helped but I feel pregnant fairly quickly (ttc for 6 months) and along came dd2.

People are often aghast when I tell them that I did 14 cycles of Clomid but I was advised that whilst there is a risk of multiples, it's a v low risk, esp at a low dose, and it frequently works and less invasive physically and emotionally than IVF.

The very best of luck, I hope it works, and quickly too.

[Tollygunge]

I've been taking Angus castus for the last three months, prescribed by a herbalist. Not sure wtaf it's done to me now though as even the brown spotting has dried up now. Just want my period here and gushing so I can get cracking on the meds! I already have one amazing dd, conceived first cycle of trying and there was nothing to suggest having a second wouldn't be the same, but after 4 subsequent losses (unconnected, we've been unlucky apparently) I'm starting to doubt if I will ever give her a sibling. Clomid has been prescribed 1) because it apparently strengthens egg, hopefully making a mc less likely 2) because I have a slight luteal phase defect 3) because I think the consultant wanted me to relax a bit and feel as though I was doing something. Hard hard times at the moment X

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Sorry to be dense, but what is Agnus castus and how/ when in your cycle should you use it? I'm on day three of my period, would it be worth trying it this cycle?

[Domino777]

My miscarriages were linked to immature eggs. Clomid resolved that thankfully

[Tollygunge]

I had agnus castus in tincture form from a herbalist. It regulates your cycle and you can start it at any point. My herbalist told me it helps lots of women to have balanced hormones.

Domino- how do you know your miscarriages were linked to immature eggs? Was this ovulating too soon or too late?