Clomid on NHS...

[funnylittlekaty]

Hi all,
Hoping for some advice about secondary infertility and NHS options.
I have a ds, 5 next month, and came off the pill when he was 3. Have been TTC since then. Had a mmc this time last year but nothing since then. Went to GP last month and she referred me for day 3 and 21 tests. they showed progesterone was 25 on day 21, so she referred me to fertility clinic. She phoned today to say there'd been a mistake, she didn't realise I already had a child, and she therefore couldn't refer me to fertility, but would to a gynaecologist to have things looked at. Originally she had seemed pretty sure they would give me clomid to stimulate ovulation. So my questions are,
Were you prescribed clomid if you already have a baby?
How much is clomid if you go private?
Is there anything else NHS can do if one already has a child?
I'm gutted, tbh. Years of relentless shagging to finally find out that there IS a likely reason why no BFP, but then to be told that they can't help me fix the problem. Any positive stories or advice vv greatly appreciated xx

[SuperUnicorn]

Hello there. In my area there is no NHS assistance if you or your partner has a living child. This rule does seem to vary slightly depending on your location.

We had quite a long wait on the NHS for clomid and we looked into going private. At our closest private clinic you needed an initial consultation (£300), possibly additional tests (eg ultrasounds, bloods, hsg - we didn't need any more doing so I didn't note the prices), the actual clomid was very reasonable, I think it was under £20, but then you need to add on follicle tracking scans (£150 here) and blood test to confirm ovulation and any follow up appointments. If you contact a few places they are usually fairly good with giving out info.

We didn't go private in the end as in our area doing so removes your entitlement to any further NHS treatment and we don't know if clomid will work for us or if we will need our 'free' IVF go.

[Tubbyinthehottub]

It depends on your CCG. In my area you can have up to 12 months of clomid if you have a living child. And a HSG. It didn't work for me and the whole process from
GP to final round took about two years or more. I wish we'd gone private in the first place as I think they would've done more tests and if there is some other deficiency or no eggs etc at least I would've known. I feel too old now to go but still heartbroken about only having one child, who is 5.

[rainbowontheway]

I had 4 months of Clomid on the NHS before I had my NHS IVF cycle. We conceived our son through the IVF. We then did a private frozen embryo cycle to try for a sibling and conceived but miscarried. I couldn't face further (private) IVF at that point but my GP prescribed me Clomid at my request to aid our chances of a natural conception. Our diagnosis is ovulatory PCOS so unexplained infertility. I took it for one month and conceived the next month. Sadly I miscarried that one too. When we were ready to try again the GP gave me another cycle of Clomid and again I conceived the month after taking it. It says in your system for a while and also builds up if you take it consecutive months. I'm now 32 weeks with that baby. I also took metformin alongside the Clomid as that reduces the risk of miscarriage in the first tri for women with PCOS.

[Toofat2BtheFly]

I had 6 cycles of clomid on the nhs .i had a living dd who was around 8yrs at the time . This was around 7 yrs ago though .

After the 6th cycle didn't work I had a massive wobble and decided we just needed to be grateful for what we had and give up on trying .

6 wks later I was staring at 2 pink lines ...it was even more of a shock to be staring at 2 more just 10 wks after my 2nd dd was born !

Never give up hope

[ILoveMyMonkey]

I have a child and have been referred to a gynaecologist who is going prescribe clomid to help ovulation occur once we've had bloods done etc.

[funnylittlekaty]

Thanks for all these replies. I'll wait for the gynae referral then, and hope they can prescribe it me. It seems odd that the gp won't. Is it worth trying a different Dr? Or would anyone who has been through this know where I could find out if clomid is funded on NHS in my area?

[ILoveMyMonkey]

My gp wouldn't prescribe it - they wouldn't give me metformin either, maybe they aren't allowed anymore.

[Tubbyinthehottub]

I don't think GPs can prescribe it. It's a very strong drug and the prescription is hospital pharmacy only. Google your CCG and fertility treatment, they may have a policy available on line. If not, contact them and ask.

[MagpieCursedTea]

I was prescribed Clomid by my GP when TTC my DS (he's 2 now). We're struggling TTC again (also living in a different part of the country). The GP here referred me to a gynaecologist (mainly because I'd been bleeding for 3 months). He diagnosed me with PCOS and put me on metformin but said having Clomid again was a possibility if the metformin doesn't help.

[rainbowontheway]

When I had Clomid before my IVF it wa prescribed by the hospital consultant. I was only monitored by day 21 blood tests even so, despite NICE guidelines recommending scans. Same when the GP prescribed it 4 years later and in a totally different part of the country.
GPs can definitely prescribe it, ande metformin, but not all will.

[Tubbyinthehottub]

I guess it depends what is approved in your CCG formulary then. You can ask them. Good luck.

[rainbowontheway]

Pre-IVF Clomid was in London, pre-CCG rollout. Post-IVF Clomid was in Wales - no CCGs here!

[jannath99]

dear all
I have been trying for 3 years, also been on metformin for pcos for 2 years with no luck. I have tried all sorts of pregnancy tablets again no luck. it has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. I am desperate for a baby. GP don't prescribe me Clomid as they say only fertility department can give this. Fert dept don't give me becoz my BMI is above 35.
Can someone help me to get clomid please? or if someone have spares at home to give me

[cheapredwine]

Jannath You're not going to like what I have to say very much but... please DON'T buy / ask for Clomind from strangers on the internet. Seriously. As someone said up thread, it is a VERY strong drug and you need careful monitoring while you're taking it. You need to be scanned regularly to check what impact it's having. And AFAIK it can also play havoc with your uterine lining - so while it might up the follicles you get, your uterus might not be as receptive to the embryo(s). Trust me, I speak from experience that it's not a magic cure and it is very strong. And I WAS prescribed it by a gynae consultant. You would have no idea how much to take, when exactly you should take it in your cycle etc. (yes, the days are similar, but mine were several days different from the norm for example). On every level it's a bad idea. If the fertility consultant won't give it to you because of your BMI - and as unfair as it seems, there will be sound clinical reasons why they won't prescribe it if you're overweight - then I think you should get further advice. Preferably from the consultant, but failing that your GP. Find out how much weight you need to lose to be considered, whether they can offer any dietary / exercise support during the weight loss etc. I know that's not what you want to read, but honestly, you need to be sensible here, this is your health, no matter how desperate you are to have a baby.

[1sttimemum2014]

I might be able to give you a tiny bit of hope. I was diagnised with PCOS many many years ago and was luckily enough to conceive DS quite quickly (within 3 months). We started TTC and have been trying for about 2 years with a gap in the middle. I went to the GP at the end of last year and was sent for a lot of tests - internal scan, die in the fallopean tubes, husband checked, bloods done and finally got chlomide and have just taken my first cycle. IVF is obviously off the table as we already have a child BUT the NHS can still help. Dont give up hope! I can also add that I hardly ever have periods which wasnt helping my cycles were between 28-89 days long so I have had to take provera to induce period to be able to have some scans and the chlomide. Hopefully I will be able to give you a success story soon but I can definitely give you the hope that the NHS will help you conceive baby number 2 :-)

[Lazyafternoon]

I've just been prescribed Clomid on NHS and have a healthy toddler!

We've TTC for DC2 for about 2 years. DS is 2 1/2 and it did take a while (18months or so) to conceive with him.

After about a year I went to GP who referred me to local hospital fertility clinic. Saw consultant had a plethora of tests and probes and scans. After finally completing them all and no specific issues having been detected I got prescribed Clomid. I start next month. It's been not quite a year from GP to starting Clomid. I've been told I can have it for up to 6 months. They've prescribed it for 3 months to start with then review. Not sure what happens after that, but they did say I wouldn't qualify for IVF on NHS but may be other avenues! Well worth pushing for any referrals, tests etc on NHS as may put you in touch with anyone who might help!

As for Clomid it does seem like there is a LOT of monitoring! Blood tests, scans etc to keep a close eye on me for first couple of months. There is no way I'd just buy it off the internet!!!

[1sttimemum2014]

I had to have a scan after a 2 weeks of taking chlomid as well, its not a herbal supplement you can just take. I was told by the consultant that I had to have the KGT scan (I think that could be wrong name - where they put the dye into the Fallopian tubes) that if my tubes were blocked and I took chlomid I could die!!!