Clomid takers- September thread

Hi ladies

Attila - You were the one who first put me on to the idea that I may have a fertility problem, so, thank you so much as there is now a lot being done to help. And thank you for your continued support and information.

I had blood tests done on a random day, as I said earlier. They tested 'all' my hormones. I say 'all' as I don't know for certain which ones were actually tested but I asked my gp about the LH v FSH thing and he said that looked fine, the only odd one was that I had slightly high levels of testosterone. The specialist (infertility nurse specialist, but am officially 'under' a consultant I've never seen) I am seeing didn't have a problem with these tests. But, as I understand it, PCOS is such that everyone shows different symptoms and odd blood results are only one of these. My scans show 'text book examples' of polycystic ovaries!

Hope everyone is well and happy, and keeping positive. BTW - please moan and rant as much as you like, that is what this thread is partly here for!!

Scorpio - how are you and your bean doing, lovey? Hope all is going very well for you, will email soon

Sorry. that was a very selfish post.
hope you are not all feeling miserable like me tonight!
Kerry - no I've not had any x-rays, fingers crossed for that BFP

X

thanks Nh, I'm sure you're right, just wasn't expecting DP to be a problem too!
hopefully he can make some improvements to push up his normality count.
To add insult to injury one of my best friends popped round for a cup of coffee earlier and told me she was pregnant - complete accident, not even trying!
Want to crack open a bottle of red but I'm doing weight watchers....oh life sucks sometimes!

If I don't get a BFP this cycle then I have been advised to get an xray of my tubes just to make sure they are ok.

Has anyone else had this done?

Thanks for taking the time to reply so thoroughly Attila. Fingers crossed I have OV'd.

Mowmi - have you been on Clomid already? it may be this is all you need if your non-ovulation is the cause of your problems.

Hi all, I have been lingering around in the background for a while just taking it all in.

Just thought I would let you know that I have just been to see the consulant following my second course of clomid (the first course being 50mg). I have OV on 100mg with a count of over 100 which consulant has informed me is likely to be 2 eggs.

I have PCOS and was prescibed clomid for this reason.

I feel all your pain...
I've just returned from our first trip to the sub fertility clinic.
The results our doc told us were fine regarding DP are not ok at all, combined with my long cycles and possible PCOS (I'm having a scan next month) we might have to go down the IVF route. Still don't know whether I ovuate or not (I'm guessing not) and we wont get the next consultation until Jan ish (we've decided to get all the investigation stuff done on the NHS and then if it doesn't move quick enough after that we'll go private)
Feeling very down - supposed to be working from home but just want to crawl under my duvet!
Sorry for the selfish rant!
Hope to read some good news on you all v soon
x

Hi nh101,

Re your comments:-

"I suppose it does make some sense! I am not being monitored either".

You should be, I'd have words!!.

"The gynae I saw did my D&C after my MC in March, then I went to see him about lack of periods (it had been 11 weeks since my last period when I saw him). He asked had my periods always been long. They have always been long so he said don't worry there's something we can give you to help you ovulate. It's called Clomid. And he prescribed me six months worth and asked to see me again in three months if it hadn't worked".

The history of long cycles should have been a clue. Well it was, he gave your clomid but giving you this without a firm diagnosis of the underlying problem is not always a good idea. Again you should be monitored whilst on it. If you're not monitored you have no way of determining whether its doing the job its supposed to. Also internal ultrasound scans should be done, at least by doing this the uterine cavity and ovaries can be seen (to see if they are polycsytic).

My temps show a strong rise after day 14 this month - which definitely means OV, doesn't it? Please don't tell me it might be wrong!! wink

All I would say is do not put any store by temp rises. If you read my post to Flosspot you will see why. A blood test is the most accurate way of determining whether ovulation has occured in any one particular month.

"I had prolactin, FSH, LH and thyroid done on a randon day (10 weeks into last cycle!) and they came back "Normal" but then when I was referred, the gynae sent me for the blood tests again saying the first ones were irrelevant because they need to be done on days 1-3. I haven't had the results from those tests yet".

Bloody hopeless of them frnakly to give you tests for those hormone levels so late in a cycle. Waste of time for all. Not surprised your gynae was not happy and sent you back again to have it redone. A caveat re the blood tests; ensure that both LH and FSH are compared with regards to the Day 3 test. If this is not done the test is meaningless.

"If you have PCOS will Clomid not make you OV?"

It does not work for all PCOS patients. It should be used with a degree of caution for such women.

"I always wondered whether I have PCOS because of the long cycles - but the temps show that I have OV'd on Clomid this month, so does that mean I definitely don't have PCOS?"

In a word no. As mentioned above, do not solely go by temp charts alone; they are not always accurate. A blood test will determine whether ovulation has occured or not. PCOS is a very individualistic disorder and affects each woman with it very differently. I was diagnosed with PCOS on the basis of my highly irregular periods (have only ever had one 28 day cycle EVER!) and my bloodwork which showed an indicator for PCOS - this being an imbalance of LH to that of FSH.

"Sorry for all the questions"
no worries

"hope everyone is well and feeling lucky this month!!!"

I second that!

Hi Flosspot

I would not take the temp rise as definitive proof that you are ovulating as you can have a temp rise in the second half of the cycle when an egg has not been shed. At best, the clomid is doing something.

Certainly take all this up with the cons at your next appointment.

I understand floss! After my epic anovulatory 12 week cycle I was so relieved to OV on day 14 this month so I can relate.

Thanks Attila - I suppose it does make some sense! I am not being monitored either. The gynae I saw did my D&C after my MC in March, then I went to see him about lack of periods (it had been 11 weeks since my last period when I saw him). He asked had my periods always been long. They have always been long so he said don't worry there's something we can give you to help you ovulate. It's called Clomid. And he prescribed me six months worth and asked to see me again in three months if it hadn't worked.

My temps show a strong rise after day 14 this month - which definitely means OV, doesn't it? Please don't tell me it might be wrong!!

Tigers - was it your progesterone test you had on a random day? What were the results?

I had prolactin, FSH, LH and thyroid done on a randon day (10 weeks into last cycle!) and they came back "Normal" but then when I was referred, the gynae sent me for the blood tests again saying the first ones were irrelevant because they need to be done on days 1-3. I haven't had the results from those tests yet.

If you have PCOS will Clomid not make you OV? I always wondered whether I have PCOS because of the long cycles - but the temps show that I have OV'd on Clomid this month, so does that mean I definitely don't have PCOS?

Sorry for all the questions - hope everyone is well and feeling lucky this month!!!

flosspot,

Is the lap they are suggesting just being done as a diagnostic procedure?. I would ask more about this, its little point in them just doing a diagnostic procedure.

I would hope instead that the cystic follicles on your ovaries would be diathermised - this type of op is called laparascopic ovarian diathermy and is sometimes helpful for women with PCOS. I became pg two months post diathermy and I know of other women who became of as a result of this op. Equally I know of women for whom this op was unsuccessful

I would ask more about this procedure and the surgeons experience in doing same.

"To Attila - if I'm on Clomid because I don't ov - but there doesn't seem to be a reason I don't (no pcos/endo etc) - what happens to me after 6 months? I am ov'ing on Clomid as doc did blood test but no other tests/monitoring are being done - I'm just expected to take it for 6 months and report back if nothing's happened"

You do not presumably have a diagnosis of the underlying problem yet they gave you clomid?. Why have they given you clomid?. It is usually given to women with ovulatory problems. I would talk to them at some length re this matter.

If you're not being monitored now then that's another no no. Monitoring should be done throughout the months you are taking this otherwise there is no way of knowing whether its working or not. The dosage may need changing.

Clomid is not prescribed for endometriosis at all. Its usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy.

Clomid encourages the ovaries to work harder, that is what is does.

Hi tigers hope you are well?

Oops - meant to post that ages ago but must have missed the button - so delayed x-posts with Atilla. I hope that I am not one of the people with PCOS that Clomid is not suitable for!

Sunshyne - welcome to the thread. Hope the Clomid works for you.

nh101 - I have often wondered that about why they expect you to get pg quicker than people who ovulate naturally. It isn't a wonder drug, it just makes you ov (assuming the levels are correct) and the rest is up to, hesitating to say 'luck' but I guess that is it!

I had blood tests on a random day as my gp recognised that fact that I may not have a period for a very long time and he wanted to get things moving. I did get the results tho.

So Attila - if I'm on Clomid because I don't ov - but there doesn't seem to be a reason I don't (no pcos/endo etc) - what happens to me after 6 months? I am ov'ing on Clomid as doc did blood test but no other tests/monitoring are being done - I'm just expected to take it for 6 months and report back if nothing's happened

"Another question I wanted to ask about Clomid - I know they don't like to give it to you for more than six months, and don't they say that they expect you to get PG within three?"

True that they don't like to give it to a patient for more than six months. I have heard that if clomid does work it is more likely to work within the first three months of usage.

"I was just wondering why because surely on Clomid you only have the same chance as anyone (normal) to get PG - at 30 you have a 20 per cent chance of concieving each cycle (apparently). So does Clomid increase your chances? How? If the egg that is released is only the same quality as any old ovulating person why do they expect you to get PG in three months when for normal people it is 12?"

Clomid encourages the ovaries to work harder. Results show that 4 out of 5 women given clomid do ovulate, but only about one in three become pg. The starting dose is usually 50 milligrams, which may be increased to 100 milligrams. Clomid can cause thickening of mucus in the cervix, so a post coital test can tell docs how well the sperms are surviving in the genital tract.

However, whilst clomid is a useful drug for many women with subfertility problems. it is not alwyas suitable for women with PCOS as it can cause an exaggerated rise in LH which could impede fertilisation. So if clomid has not been successful in women with PCOS within 6 months, more investigations and alternative treatments are usually called for.

nh101 the progesterone level is what indicates if you have ov'd or not - a level of over 30 at 7DPO indicates ov. (7DPO on a 28 day cycle is day 21 - to answer your other q!)
sunshyne welcome - and don't feel too bad about your 28.5 - my first day 21 test was 8.3

Another question I wanted to ask about Clomid - I know they don't like to give it to you for more than six months, and don't they say that they expect you to get PG within three?

I was just wondering why because surely on Clomid you only have the same chance as anyone (normal) to get PG - at 30 you have a 20 per cent chance of concieving each cycle (apparently). So does Clomid increase your chances? How? If the egg that is released is only the same quality as any old ovulating person why do they expect you to get PG in three months when for normal people it is 12?

Floss - I have had blood tests done too - am waiting for the results which are in but doc isn;t in till Thursday to look at them. Does the day 21 progesterone test have to be done on day 21 of your cycle (is that a stupid question???)

Hi Sunshyne, welcome! Good luck on the Clomid. What does low progesterone mean - does it mean you can't maintain a pregnancy after fertlization?

Are they going to give you progesterone after ovulation?

Sorry for being thick I just wondered why Clomid is the answer to low progesterone. Hope it works for you!