Clomid wobble - any advice/ success stories from those who've had it?

[Brokenbits]

I'm due to go in for fertility test results tomorrow and I think hope that I will be prescribed clomid. I was just wondering if anyone out there has taken it and what I can expect. I'm not even certain I'll get it yet, but I'm having a bit of a wobble and am half happy and half terrified about the prospect.

Are there any side effects other than the chance of multiple babies? Is my risk of miscarriage greater on clomid? Any insights would be greatly appreciated, as would any success stories! It would also be interesting to hear from anyone who's had metformin or any other similar ovulation boosting drugs. The doctors can be so vague and first-hand experiences are always more honest.

[zam72]

I've taken Clomid both times with an HCG trigger shot (to make sure the egg pops). My issue was longish irregularish cycles, polcystic ovaries but not PCOS, all b/w fine just no pregnancy - so minor ovulation defect. Took 1 lot of Clomid after trying for just over a year...resulted in DS1. Took 2nd lot...resulted in DS2. Both times...success first time!

The chances of multiples is about 1 in 10, I think. I don't think it increases your risks of m/c. Only mc I had was without Clomid just before getting pg with DS2. Side effects for me....more emotional, hot flushes, bit of weird eye hazing, quite intense ovulation pain but fairly minor and liveable with. I had u/s monitoring throughout so as to avoid the possibility of OHSS - which is the hyperstimulation thing that is not too great for you - and to avoid multiples (they wouldn't proceed with the trigger shot if I had had too many eggs about to pop...but obviously they don't stop you just going for it yourselves).

We had quite an old fuddy duddy consultant 2nd time round who said we were 'unexplained' IF rather than ovulation issue IF. And he said Clomid wouldn't work so well for unexplained and was pushing us to bugger off and do IVF privately. But we pushed for Clomid and we were obviously happy we did.

My DH is a CLomid baby too funnily enough! His Mum wasn't ovulating at all I think.

Anyway, hope it works for you. Can understand the trepidation about being prescribed it.

[loueytbg]

I was prescribed clomid after 2 years of infertility - the first year with no AF and then very short cycles. In my case the drs thought that I was ovulating but my progesterone levels were low and I had a very short luteal phase which likely meant that even if I was getting pregnant, the embryo would be trying to implant at the time AF arrived. One of the additional effects of clomid is to boost progesterone levels.

First attempt resulted in my twin boys . I was also told about the 1/10 chance of multiples but it was a risk I was happy to take.

I was not monitored at all - it seems to vary a lot around the country. I would push to be monitored if you are put on it because of the risk of multiple follicles.

Side-effects for me were not really an issue. I got quite bloated and was very aware of being in discomfort from ovulation which was not normal for me then (it is now interestingly). I didn't really have any other side effects of note at all. But then I was only on it a month and I was on the lowest dose (50 mg).

Best of luck!

[AnyFucker]

I am a Clomid success story

A bit of a long, convoluted tale with a few false starts along the way, so won't bore you with that

The side effects were quite bad for me...abdominal pain, severe bloating, eye disturbances, migraines. I almost had to stop taking it but begged for more

I was not monitored (this is 17 years ago though, and they were more blase then)

My problem was anovulation and no cycles, reason unexplained

Good luck x

[Brokenbits]

Thank you both for such positive messages. I feel much better already!!!

Thankfully, I don't have PCOS and my fertility problems stem entirely from a miscarriage which seems to have either stopped me ovulating at all (according to the doctors), or knackered up my progesterone levels so that I may be ovulating, but only very weakly (according to me). The last time my progesterone levels were tested they were ridiculously low and although I get fertile signs, temp peak and positive OPKs at the same time every month (around cd23!)my temp drops immediately afterwards and I reckon I may have a luteal phase defect, which causes the implantation probs that you mentioned loueytb. I'm so grateful you told me it will boost progesterone levels. I was terrified I'd get pregnant on it and then miscarry because of that problem.

I am lucky enough to have one DS, but have been trying to give him a sibling for 19 months now. The side effects you both mention sound like a small price to pay. I also have no qualms about multiples provided I don't end up giving birth to a litter in a box under the stairs!
Thank you both for your kind messages and I'm pleased it worked for you.

[Brokenbits]

Sorry AF - cross post. Those side effects do sound a bit evil. TBH the progesterone deficiency is already causing me acute migraines anyway. The vision thing sounds weird, but the migraines cause similar problems anyway. I suppose it's swapping one set of problems for another, but I don't care if it results in a baby and I'm glad it worked for you too.

[AnyFucker]

clomid fixes progesterone deficiency (it fixed mine, but I had a deficiency of everything...), so no increased risk of mc that I can see for you

so good luck, and fingers crossed x

btw, watch out for early ovulation when you are taking it

I am pretty sure I conceived on about day 9-10 on one of my cycles

and try not to worry too much about side effects...I had many cycles of clomid and it didn't stop me ! Although obvioulsy report everything you are worried about to the doc

keep us posted !

[Brokenbits]

Day 9 or 10? Wow! That would make a change from the endless waiting to ovulate when everyone else has finished a complete cycle. I thought you were supposed to take it between cd 5 and 10, or I have I got that wrong?

I will keep you posted and thanks again. I'd far rather hear it from women who've actually taken it than balding, middle-aged, male consultants.

[AnyFucker]

my cycles were about 365 days long without clomid

I think that the advice varies as to which days to take the tabs (and may possibly have changed in recent years)

I took mine on days 3-7

but you follow the advice you are given, obvs

[zam72]

I took mine day 2-6 - there's some reason behind it but can't remember now. But I've seen other start times - depends on your Dr and what they think.

[loueytbg]

OP - that's very interesting re your miscarriage messing things up. After I had DTs, I went back on the pill. Came off it last November and got PG almost immediately clearly the PG had sorted my cycles out. Then I had a mmc at 12 weeks . Since then though my cycles have been screwy. The first 5 cycles after mc I had no ovulation and cycle lenghts all over the place (last one was 19 days . Was on the verge of going back to the Drs when this cycle I got a +ve OPK. So now in 2ww.

Like Zam I took the clomid days 2-6 and there is a reason but I can't remember why either. Some docs give it days 3-7. I seem to remember there were some posts about it on fertilityfriend.

I would definitely stock up on OPKs and start using them very early. I nearly got caught out this cycle as I started on CD8 and it was already +ve (have very short cycles). There is an ebay shop which sells them pretty cheaply as they are hideously expensive in Boots.]

[AnyFucker]

ah, louey, another short few days to ovulation for you too

although my cycles were absolutely fecked, when I did ovulate, it was very early

as long as the luteal length (ie. ovulation to bleed) is more than 12-14 days, the early O is fine, I believe

well, it must have been, because my 14 yo dd is living proof

[Brokenbits]

loueytbg It's interesting but a bit frustrating and worrying, because the mc was so traumatic I'm really quite scared of it happening again. The recovery bit doesn't seem to apply to me. I also had a mc (blighted ovum)at 12 weeks. I then bled for 3 months straight and the doctors were so clueless as to why it was happening, that I put myself back on the pill for a month just to get closure and stop the bleeding. This could have made my body even more confused, but they didn't leave me with much of a choice. Since then I do get positive OPKs, but I think my body gears up to do what it should and doesn't quite manage it.

Thanks for the OPK advice. I'll just start straight after AF in that case. Will be quite strange considering I don't generally bother until cd18 at the moment! I buy all my strips cheaply in bulk online at AccessDiagnostics, otherwise I'd be bankrupt by now! Hope the 2ww goes quickly for you. Will keep my fingers crossed.

[AnyFucker]

the best advice I was given was simply to have sex every couple of days from the last clomid pill you take

I didn't use OPK's at all...too tying and makes the "mechanical" nature of sex even worse, IMO

however, you should do what works best for you

[Brokenbits]

Thanks AF. It probably makes sense to at least keep the clinical testing nightmare bit out of the DTD fun. It's all a bit academic right now because I've been told I need to have a hysterosalpingogram before they'll think about clomid. Very annoying considering my tubes clearly aren't blocked if I managed to get pregnant and then have a mc. GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

[AnyFucker]

yes, that is annoying

having to have all those "boxes" ticked

[cloudwine]

Hi. I'm currently on month 4 of Clomid (my first month at 100mg). I too stopped ovulating after my miscarriage last year, and after having no problems conceiving DS1.

I didn't really get many side effects when taking 50mg, just some blurred vision and feeling bloated around ovulation time. I'm having a few hot flushes now I've started on 100mg but otherwise ok.

Not sure if it's true, but several people have said on the conception threads that OPK's don't work as the Clomid messes about with your hormone levels anyway, giving false positives and negatives at weird times. I take my temps and am pretty sure I'm ovulating on day 17-18 of a 31ish day cycle

There's plenty of advice from Clomid girls on the Conception board who have far more knowledge and experiences than me.