CLOMID GANG - the new thread

Nice to see some new people!

Relax, did you get follicle measurements on previous cycles that weren't successful? This is my first cycle and I know its hoping rather alot to get preg on the very first one. I do work but I am self-employed so I generally go to the clinic on my way to the office. You said that the clomid produces more follicles, it also makes them more mature and stronger so better chance of fertilisation.

dizzy36, Clomid is only taken for a short time in all cases as that is all that is needed as it is a very powerful drug. It is taken at the beginning of the cycle as if it is taken later it can make the cm hostile to sperm which is not conducive to conceiving. I would take scan appts if they are offered to you so you can and the Cons see exactly what is happening. What were your follicle sizes previously?

Jodee, maybe the left pain is relating to the fact that your left ovary will be 'the ovary' this month? I ovulated on my right side this month and I knew when I had ovulated as I felt a stirring on my right side which I have never felt. As they measured 21mm and 23mm I am not surprised I felt something. I always imagined like sperm that they were 1mm! Hope the headaches subside. I didn't have any although when I was about to take the tablets x2 50mg I looked at them in my hand and wondered and was scared of all the possible side effects. None except for a hot flush earlier this week at 6am.

Welcome Natitude and good luck!!

Hi naditude! I'm fairly new to this thread - have just started my first cycle of clomid and am on CD6 - good luck to you!

Anyone else get headaches as a side-effect of the clomid? They have been really bad the last two days and I have had to take my migraine tablets (which i hadn't had to touch for ages).

Also, I have had a lower left-side abdominal pain today, is this a sign that something is 'going on'?

Hello all! I'm another newbie and am so pleased to discover that I'm not alone in my obsession ttc!

Am 32 with DS, aged 13. Been with new partner for 7 years. Been ttc for about 3 years. Started using strips for ov about 2 years ago - spent a fortune! My cycles vary from 29 to 45 days! Referred to the hosp, had Hysterosalpinogram - tubes good; DH sperm tested - 5 star!; 21 days blood tested - good. He suspects PCOS though. Hosp have labelled us as 'Unexplained infertility' and urged us to 'keep trying'! After badgering for months, got him to give me chlomid (day2-6 - 50mg). He doesn't think they will benefit me. He also informed me we were taken off the 12 month long waiting list for IUI as we don't qualify for I have a child already! We'll have to pay if we want to go down that road.

Anyway, took my first pill last night. Not being monitored though and wasn't given a leaflet about side effects!! Or how to take them! Also - does anyone know if chlomid will regulate my cycle? My last was 41 days.

By the way - just bought 'Taking charge of your fertility' on ebay for a fiver.

Anyway, I just wanted to make contact with you all and add my tuppence worth. It'll be nice chatting with others that understand.

hi relax. thanks for the tip about taking before going to bed.

Dr said I could have a scan done at around day 12 if I wanted to see how I am responding but he didn't say it was a necessity. Not sure whats best now. All I now about clomiphene (clomid) is that it triggers ovulation for people who don't. For people who do ovulate (like me) it again gives them a helping hand.

I've been given 50mg also but no mention of the Pregnyl that you are taking on day 15, in fact no real mention of me needing to go back to clinic at all while on clomid! Can I ask why you were prescribed it and the procedure your consultant described. also Do you know anything about the success rates per cycle and according to age (am nearing 38). Can't seem to find any info on web.

To be honest, I have just had 3 failed attempts at iui which is why now on clomid (ususally do it the other way around apparently, clomid first then iui). I know I should be more positive but can't imagine this working either.

i'm the same on 1 tablet from day 2-6. this stimulates your ovaries to produce more folicles (more chance of multiple births i think). Are you having to have any follow up to see how you are responding ? I would recommend taking the tablets before bed just incase you get any hot flushes etc you will probably not notice them too much then that was what the clinic recommended to me anyway

good luck with your treatment everyone . i will be keeping everything crossed for you ......maybe not everything

hi, I have just been prescribed clomiphene for 3 cycles but to take only 1 tablet from day 2 to 6 inclusive. This sounded a really short time to me. Are some of you on it throughout your cycle?

skbf- on my last cycle i had 2 follicles on day 15 which were 20 and 21 mm. was convinced it was working this month cos i was 4 days late was gutted when af arrived. Never mind as you say onwards and upwards thats all we can do. How many cycles have you had ?
Does anyone work, and find it difficult to keep popping off for blood tests and scans ? I dont want everyone at work to know whats going on , whats the best way around this? feel as if im running out of excuses.

Me: Now day 24, ususally get twinges on day 23 which continue on and off until AF arrives. Yesterday I got the first twinge and am feeling it now. Has really p*ed me off (!) as I know that it has been unsuccessful this month and I will have yet more visits to the clinic. Oh well. Onwards and upwards. At least we are all alive and healthy...

Hi Relax and welcome! The pregnyl is the follicle releasing injection which is given when they think the follicle is the right size to be released and the lining is thick enough for implantation. What size did your follicle(s) grow to? Good luck with your fourth cycle.

can i join in ??? Have been ttc 1st child for about 3 1/2 years :( .me 29 dh 33. Eventually went for a fertility referal last year and had various tests (blood cd 21 / lap and dye, nothing really wrong as such ). So i too am now on the dreaded monster tablets 50mg and have scans on day 15 followed by injection of pregnyl (? to mature the egg i think ) then a blood test cd 21. Just starting my 4th cycle of this....... so thats me in a nutshell. Feel a little bit like i am obsessing about ttc . need to relax more . Good luck to everyone on this thread
hope all you dreams of having little babies come true xx

Wow Artoo & SKBF - that's brill news! I am definitely going to ask for the mid cycle scan at my next appointment as I am sure I did not OV this month (month 1 on clomid). Next apt is 28th March so I will have had 2 cycles by then.

As for the timed intercourse, we are doing it as much as poss (at least every other day) between days 8 - 18 just to be sure!

Had my day 21 blood done yesterday but feel I want more support and check ups than this...

Oh and the hot flush occured this morning at 6.45am.

Hi Artoo! It's day 22 and I had what I think is my first hot flush. I lay in bed and just felt hot and restless but didn't perspire. I wondered if I had left the electric blanket on but checked and I hadn't. It later dawned on me that this must be due to the Clomid. Wasn't bad though.

The clinic call it 'timed intercourse' as opposed to IUI meaning that they tell you the best time. I too bought the clear blue fertility monitor even though it says it doesn't work with clomid and the damn thing broke. I rang the helpline, this was a few weeks ago, and the recorded message said the helpline wasn't working for the time being, etc. I didn't panic as I knew that I would be monitored by the clinic but wanted to use it the month before I took the clomid.

I was told to test 16 days after ovulation. I had the follicle releasing injection on Monday at 12 noon, had cm at 10pm that night and felt a stirring in right ovary at 10pm on Tuesday night as I sat at the theatre. BD'ed 10am Wednesday so will test either 16 or 17 March which is 9/10 days to go. Am obviously hoping its this month but a more realistic approach I think for me is to hope to be preg by the end of 2006.

Good luck!

Well, "timed intercourse" sounds very formal. The nurse just told us to start BD-ing from today. We've been advised to just make sure we BD every couple of days.

I'm using a Clearblue fertility monitor, even though the instructions say it won't work with clomid. If I get an egg symbol I'll switch to the "egg meet sperm" plan, if I don't I'll just go with every other day unless we feel really randy one day! :)

When are you going to be testing ?

Hugs,
Artoo.

Wowee Artoo. Similar measurements to mine, I had 2 follicles at day 11 and they measured 15mm and 17mm. They were very pleased with the progress and it sounds as if the doctor looking after you is too. Are you doing timed intercourse or IUI? We did timed and I did a shoulder stand for 10 mins!! DP safely in the bath so didn't feel embarrassed!

Quick update on me. DH and I were at the hospital this morning for a mid-cycle scan to ensure I am responding to the clomid OK. And there is great news! I have a good sized follicle forming (16mm on CD11), and my endometrial lining is a good thickness already (7mm). So it looks like the clomid has done the trick, and I'll be ovulating this month.

And the other good news is that the nurse who did the scan said that if I did get pregnant I should phone her and she could arrange an early scan for me :)

I really hope this does the trick for us.

Hugs,
Artoo.

Thanks, ShouldKnow, i will do that.

Jodee it is recommended that you take Clomid before you go to sleep in case you have hot flushes and if so hopefully you will sleep through them. I didn't have them but I have read that they are very common.

Hello, I'm on CD1 so will be starting my very first round of Clomid (50mg) tomorrow - I havent read through all the thread but do people recommend taking it in the evenings rather than mornings?

Wishing everyone loads of luck!

Hi,

I'm not far from London, in Colchester but can't afford that sort of money, though I will def bring it up with my next apt with my consultant - she has been terrific so far, have been really lucky. Think it helps that she knows my best friend!!!

Well, now on CD18 so into the 2 week wait. Don't think have ov'd this month as temps not done anything funny, although this morning was up to 36.8 from 36.5 at the start of the week but don't think this is enough? Ho hum. AF due Sat 11th so we will just have to wait and see.

Just seen that Morrissey and Paul Weller & Radiohead are playing the V festival this year - off to get tickets at bang on 9 am!!!

J x

Hi Loubie. I know that that it is costly but it is something I am prepared to do as after ttc'ing for almost 2 years and being over 40 I need to do something drastic pretty quick. Thank you for your hope, we'll see in time if it is worth the outlay...

Just read about Proff Ian Craft being taken to the GMC for heavy selling and unnecessary procedures so he could charge more. Scandalous.

Thanks for that - there's no way we could afford that sort of amount every month! At least I know now :(

We're in Lincolnshire by the way :)

Good luck, hope it's mega worthwhile for you :)

Loubie xx

I have just typed a really long message and lost it.Grr. My treatment is costing roughly £400 per cycle which is Clomid and follicle tracking. Follicle tracking is usually done with IUI (£800 per cycle) but I told the dr that we wanted to do timed intercourse instead. The follicle release injection is not included and I think that costs around £50.

Loubie, Rachee, Jen, are any of you in London?

Shouldknowbyfriday,

How much is your treatment costing....? roughly?

wooops, just re read your post, you said hubby was tickety boo, oops i read that as tricky too !! ooops , sorry, over tired !!!!!! xXXx