Talk to me about clomid?

[Catinthecorner]

So. It's offfical, I don't ovulate. I'm also 34 and not in the uk (husbands work had us overseas). My health care is meant to be NHS equivalent but it turns out that means but only when NHS is the bare minimum and actually in the instance of fertility we won't cover you at all.

I'm arguing for either a return to the uk for husband and I so we can have treatment, a referral into to NHS so we can nip back for treatment (still uk tax payers due to the contract husband is under so don't panic this is very much allowed) or treatment here.

In the meantime my doctor here has suggested we try clomid (self funding in an expensive country so there goes basically every penny we've managed to pay off our mortgage).

So tell me about clomid. Can I have clomid and be on a waiting list for ivf simultaneously? Are there extras I want to consider trying alongside?

Basically I feel like hell, and I really want someone to hold my hand through this.

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Well I can't help you much, but if this does help... my Clomid baby is now 12. Took 3 cycles, but it can work.

[meadowlark3]

Clomid will make you ovulate so can overcome the non-ovulation issue. However, if there are other things that are stopping pregnancy from happening (sperm issues, tubal issues), it won't matter of you ovulate or not. If it is affordable and it will be a few months before you can start IVF, it likely wouldn't hurt to try clomid whilst you wait (although you will need some scans and a bit of investigation as to why you're not ovulating on your own)...but at 34, you may not want to wait unnecessarily before moving on to IVF. How long have you been TTC?

Xx

[meadowlark3]

Also, depending on where you are stationed, is private funding in another country an option? Lots of UK couples go to Prague, Greece, etc...

[knrthomas]

Hi Catinthecorner,

I am on clomid, this is my third cycle. I have been told I have to wait to see if this doesn't work, i will then be added to the waiting list.

I have read a lot of lovely clomid success stories in various forums :) it makes you feel hopeful doesn't it?!

Hope all goes well.

x

[Catinthecorner]

Thank you all for commenting, I love how supportive this place can be.


Meadowlark - no tubal issues showed on my ultrasound (hurrah - finally a break), sperm test is due (the waiting list is huge here as there's only one place for hundreds of miles). TTC more than a year but less then two (would we normally be sent direct to IVF given my age? Maybe we should throw the money at ivf instead?). Fertility tourism would be pretty expensive in terms of travel costs from our neck of the woods but we may look into it.

MilkTwoSugars - congratulations on getting there with clomid. Knrthomas - I'll keep everything crossed for you. Are you around my age?

I've been told the odds are around 80% I'll ovulate with it and then if I do around 15% I'll conceive which sounds just such low numbers. It make me despondent.

[knrthomas]

Hiya...
No, im 24... I am still waiting to find out if my blood results show that I ovulated. Had bloods done in month 2 and 3 but don't find out the results until my clinic appointment next month. I really wish they would tell me sooner it would be nice to know.

I think you have to try and forget the figures (hard I know). I am just as bad though!
I have made myself feel shit because I've read that the people who get pregnant on clomid are 75% in first 3 months and 25% in last 3 months so I've made myself feel like I've got a lower chance now (I'm going on to month 4) which is silly because I have seen people on these forums some of which have got pregnant in later months!! And of course there are people who have been told they can't have children and then they do. There is always hope for us!

Hugs

Xx

[UppityHumpty]

I don't think any UK gaene (NHS) is going to start you with an IVF referral based on tests from another country. They'll make you start again. They are often quite rigid about it too - blood tests, transvaginal ultrasound, hsg, then Clomid for 6 mths, then IVF. There's no point wasting money in another country, just wait until you're in the UK and get everything done in one go.

[UppityHumpty]

@knrthomas - if it makes you feel better most IVF pregnancies are for women under 30, so don't lose hope!

[Catinthecorner]

UppityHumpty our situation is quite unique. Think military stationed within an ally country on a non-UK base. It means we have a process for getting direct referrals to uk specialists if needed.

But you are right. In the usual circumstances it wouldn't be possible.

[UppityHumpty]

tbh I assumed you might be military. Where I live there are a lot of military wives & they do have to start again once in the UK. Maybe it's different in other areas, hopefully so in your case.

[IlonaRN]

Do you not ovulate at all, or just not show ovulation on a day21 progesterone test?
Do they know why you are not ovulating?
Are you overweight?
Do you have PCOS?
Have you tried charting temperatures?
Perhaps use the time before you can be referred to see if you can/do ovulate naturally?

(PCOS here, weird cycles, had 4 cycles clomid, 3 cycles FSH injections, but fell naturally and have a gorgeous 18m boy!)

[Catinthecorner]

IlonaRN

Thanks for popping by to help!

Day 21 testing, but my doctor seems pretty sure I'm just not ovulating at all. I've got an appointment soon so she can explain why she thinks that.

No idea why I'm not ovulating - hopefully the ultrasound I've just have will show something. I'm not sure what other testing would be done if it doesn't?

Not overweight. If anything I've spent my life underweight, but have put a stone or so on in the last couple of years which pushed me in the healthy BMI category. Hate it, but I've been told not to try and lose weight.

No diagnosis of PCOS.

Tried temping and I was all over the shop. Tried the ovulation pee sticks and they weren't much better.