Clomid when ovulating on your own

[sunlover72]

Hi,

I wonder if someone could clear something up for me?.

After lots of tests, everything seems fine with my DH, hormones, bloods etc are ok and she is ovulating.

And the clinic have gone for... 3 months of clomid as the next step.

Im a bit confused here, ive read up on clomid, and its main role appears to be encouraging ovulation.

Therefore if already ovulating it seems a bit pointless?. In fact id have thought the small risk of thinning the uterine lining makes it a bad choice for someone who ovulates regularly?

Is there something im missing about clomid?. I have a feeling that our clinic just chucks everyone onto it if they dont find obvious problems in SA etc.

Thanks

That does sound strange...were you at the appt? Can you ring and speak to someone to ask? And I'm assuming you mean your DW! (DH = dear husband!) If most things were normal for her (and you) clomid does seem a bit odd. Someone with more knowledge will hopefully be along soon!

Hi

Unfortunatly i had to work so missed that appointment, and yes i meant DW lol sorry.

All the tests were normal, SA fine, no blockages etc.. and they didnt give a reason for clomid, just said they would 'try that next'

We were going to get ovarian reserve checked, but as she got pregnant a few cycles back (but lost it at 4 weeks) they said it isnt helpfull now.

I thought maybee clomid would encourage multiple eggs to be released? Giving more targets for the swimmers?. But i may ring and ask as you suggest.

Thanks

sunlover72 - please let us know what they say as ive often wondered that as I thought if you took clomid when you do ovulate it can have a reverse affect and stop you ovulating and drys up any CM (don't quote me though just what I have read but could be absolutely wrong!)

I've been trying for 16 months without any luck but from blood tests and ovulation kits it shows I ovulate. I've got my first fertility appointment next week and am wondering what they will do first to investigate.

Sunlover and absentbump I would be interested in hearing how both of you get on.

I have PCOS but appear ovulate (according to clearblue fertility monitor) and have regular cycles - yet my doctor suggested I would be put on metformin or clomid.

I thought metformin encouraged periods and clomid encouraged ovulation - not sure what they will do for me if I already do both!

I have PCOS but my gynae doesn't want me to take clomid because I do ovulate at least some of the time. It is only beneficial if you don't ovulate. The NICE guidelines do recommend it for unexplained infertility but they are VERY out of date.

The more recent research is here, and we discussed it here.

In conclusion, I agree with you sunlover, that it isn't indicated in your DW's circumstances. Good luck :)

Panda Sam

Clearblue monitor is of no benefit whatsoever if PCOS is present. The kit measures LH; as many PCOSers have an excess of this hormone to start with the kit is just reading that excess.

Clomid should not be used unless there is definitive proof that ovulation is not happening regularly. It should always be used with caution if PCOS is an issue as clomid resistance can happen, it is not always suitable therefore for all PCOSers to take.

Thanks all this is VERY interesting reading, and i suspect the clinic just do it as a standard 'stage 2' in infertility treatment.

The cost of the clomid isnt an issue really, its just my DW is 44 in february, so 3 months lost trying something that wont help... is not good.

Hi Sunlover 72,

I have just completed six months of clomid and I to am ovulating on my own as is your dw.

I was told they do this partly because it is the protocol and even in the case she was ovulating the month they tested apparently you may not ovulate every month.

Hopefully as your wife is in her forties you will only have to do 3 months. I did grumble when they made me do the second three months as I thought it was wasting time. But because I am 29 they recommended I do a second lot of 3 months. We are now waiting to move on to IUI. Hope this helps.

When I asked for it at my appointment, the doc said that even worse than not helping, it could potentially mess up my cycles and hence make things worse, as well as just wasting time.

Hi countryside, thing is aside from the tests confirming she ovulates - she charts, sees the definite LH surge and temperature rise every cycle (regularly too, she ovulates day 14-16 without fail). So i am a bit puzzled.

As you say though it is probably the 'protocol'

Runlyrarun:- Yup thats what i was thinking, at the moment cycle is very regular, so anything affecting that isnt great.

Good on you for being so involved. Ask those questions, argue against the protocol

Thanks all for your comments is very intersting...I will see what they say to me on my appointment and let you all know. I don't my problem is with ovuatation- every month I have a bleed 5 days post ovulation and spot up until my AF arrives usually every 25/26 days so be intesting to see what the next step for me is.

RunLyra - I can't open the whole article you linked to, as not signed up to BMJ. But finding the article on PubMed is interesting. What is expectant management, do you know? Thanks.

Hey Miff, extracts from the study for you:

Design: Expectant management ?This involved six months during which no clinic visits or medical interventions were scheduled. Couples were given general advice regarding the need for regular intercourse, but no specific measures such as basal temperature charts or luteinising hormone kits were recommended.

Results: Live birth rates in the three randomised groups were 32/193 (17%) for expectant management, 26/192 (14%) for clomifene citrate, and 43/191 (23%) for unstimulated intrauterine insemination. Three women (2%) in the clomifene citrate group and 14 (7%) in the intrauterine insemination group became pregnant spontaneously and had a live birth [i.e. not related to their treatment].

The editorial about the study also states:
"Bhattacharya and colleagues? study also highlights an interesting "reality check"?infertile couples were less satisfied with expectant management despite it being equally effective. This emphasises the importance of managing couples' expectations realistically and providing accurate information about the anticipated chance of pregnancy with each intervention".

I interpret all of this as "if the don't know what's wrong with you, clomid and IUI are unlikely to fix it". Unfortunately :(