Clomid - if you appear to be ovulating and have regular cycles?

[beangrower]

I'm a regular on one of the threads here (and been TTC DC2 for a year) but just wanted to ask if there is any point in taking clomid (or similar) if you appear to be having regular periods and ov etc. To explain the background: I was offered the drug beginning with 'L' (like clomid) as an option (prior to trying IUI or IVF) during a debriefing following tests with a private fertility clinic. The tests didn't reveal any real problems just confirmed that as I'm 40 I have not so great AMH (9.5) but ok FSH (also 9.5) and 11 antral follicles (egglets) revealed by dildo cam - which in my book seemed quite promising.

I was a bit confused by the offer of drugs. I thought Clomid helped with PCOS? And I hear clomid dries up fertile CM etc so I'm personally more convinced that I'm better off with acupuncture etc. I'm not keen to go down the IVF route I just wanted to try to find out in the tests if I was at all fertile and it seems that the game is not entirely over. I conceived DS without any wait at 37 but 3 years on it's looking trickier.

I also haven't had my tubes checked and wondered if I should do - if anyone has been in similar position?

Thanks all.

Hi, i too was offered clomid as an egg stimulating kinda help, i have regular periods, hormone leves low..based on one blood test so i declined.

Also was not offered any kind of observation or follow up, jsut prescribed it and sent on my way.

The side effects and potential risks are considerable, none of which i was happy to consider.

Are you under a consultant to investigate your issues?

Thanks gigglepin - NHS have showed supreme disinterest in my TTC travails. My GP caved in on giving my a progesterone test cd21 and said he wouldn't get back to me if the levels were fine... and didn't get back to me, so I can only assume the levels are fine.

My DP was offered SA (without hesitation), which we should hear about next week.

So I paid to get a private fertility MOT (hormone tests and scan) and other than a relatively low AMH (not suprising if I'm 40!) and a tiny fibroid it all looked quite good.

I can't see the point in stimulating ov if I'm oving...

I have a tilted cervix too, but that hasn't impeded me in the past.

BTW - well done for taking control and avoiding the risks. I've heard it's not a great drug though I can understand that people want to take it.

Hi, I'm on Clomid because of ovulatory problems which is obviously it's main function. But, some consultants are of the view the Clomid encourages a 'better' quality of ovulation hence will point slightly older (sorry, 40s hardly old, but you know what I mean!) toward it as a first step if nothing else appears to be wrong. I think by 'better' the idea is slightly higher hormones etc. I know someone in that situation it's worked for, though I guess it might have happened for her eventually anyway..

In terms of side effects, I've not suffered too badly, it's just made the two periods I've had on it more painful. Others do struggle with it more though. In terms of CM, I've actually had a lot more while on it and many women do seem to find that. But that may be because it's correcting a problem with ovulation of which no/little CM was a symptom, iyswim. On a low dose, 50mg, you would be unlucky to find it had a dramatic effect on CM i think. The other problem it can cause is a thinner womb lining so again potentially unhelpful but also something you'd be unlucky to experience on a low dose. And if you are already ov'ing then you'd really only need a low dose.

With regards long term effects, there is some evidence of an increase in cancer but I think the jury is still out. Generally you can't take it for more than six-ish months as a precaution though my consultant is pretty relaxed - he says when he was training women took it for up to a couple of years. Generally if it's going to work it will be in the first 3-4 months so the 6 month rule is about not taking a drug where there may (stress may) be a long-term risk associated with it if it's probably not working for that person.

So I'm not trying to encourage you to take it, but would equally say it might be worth thinking about, even just for a few months.

HTH, good luck..

Thanks Highlove - that's very helpful and thanks for taking the time to tell me your experience and give me another viewpoint. I wish you the very best of luck with your forthcoming BFP!

And 40 (just) isn't ancient but I'm a bit shocked that at 37.5 getting pg was a doddle and at 39-40 it just hasn't happened so in terms of fertility I'm afraid it is a bit old. Anyway - I'm so lucky that I managed to have my LO so easily first time round so I have to keep this attempt TTC2 in perspective.

xxx

I took Clomid in similar circumstances. Nearly two years TTC and nothing. My bloods all came back ok and it did look like I was OV.

I concieved DD on the second cycle. Sometimes your body might just need a kick up the backside IYSWIM.

The side affects when taking weren't too bad. The hot flushes were the worst bit for me, so I took them at night instead.

I wasn't monitored either, however I would of demanded further investigation/monitoring if the third cycle had failed.

I took it because I was very keen to avoid IVF.

Sorry clicked post too soon. I wanted to wish you the best of luck and hopefully DC2 will be with you soon x

Hi Beangrower.

I am on Letrozole, which is probably the L drug like Clomid you mentioned. I ovulate without drugs and have been diagnosed with "unexplained infertility" and referred for NHS IVF. I'm 35 and ttc my first child.

My NHS fertility clinic said there was no point in Clomid as I was ovulating. However, whilst waiting for my IVF I decided to pursue private immunology testing. The dr I saw suggested what he calls his "superovulation" programme - Letrozole plus a trigger shot injection. I decided to give it a go. My first cycle was not a wholehearted success. I ovulated later than usual and was unable to take the trigger shot because I had my first monitoring scan before Xmas and it was too early so I needed to be rescanned a few days later, which would have fallen on Xmas Day/Boxing Day, which obviously wasn't possible. It was just unfortunate timing. I am about to start my second Letrozole cycle now.

I am not keen on taking drugs and glad that I am being monitored while I am on them, but I figure it is a lot more of a light touch than IVF (with all the drugs that involves) and that is where I am headed so I might as well give it a go.

eurochick are you at a London clinic, by any chance? I only ask because after Clomid I'm nit sure what the NHS will be able to offer. Obviously very much hoping the Clomid works for us but if not I'd rather try other drugs first before IVF. The private clinic I've seen seemed to only be interested in pushing straight to that, tbh. If there is somewhere/someone who specialises in ovulatory dysfunction then I guess that's what I'm looking for!

Ps. beangrower sorry to hijack!

The consultant I am seeing is in London and specialises in reproductive immunology primarily but also knows a great deal about PCOS, etc. I saw him to access immunology testing but he is a gynae and so knows about other issues. He is called Mr Sheheta and practises out of New Life in Epsom and the Miscarriage Clinic on Harley St.

I was prescribed clomid also 11 years ago despite ovulating regularly but failing to conceive after 2 years of trying and various tests which revealed nothing. I was 37 at the time.

Conceived triplets after 3 months. Lost one very early on and now have 2 boys aged 10.5

Hi eurochick, runninggal and IloveGreggs

eurochick - really hope Letrozole works out for you. The private consultant I saw recommended this as "better" than clomid. Great you are being monitored. The clinic sounds good. There was no mention of immunology testing for me at private clinic (and I thought they were a bit rubbish re' full investigation) but perhaps because I have a DC? Agree with you that's it's best to try everything else before IVF. I'm so wishing you the very best that this approach pays off.

Highlove - hopefully the clomid will work....

runninggal - sorry for your loss but congrats on your success story. Encouraging for us.

IloveGreggs - great about your DD after your long wait. Maybe I should give the drugs a chance for 3 months...

I have just started Chinese herbs alongside acupuncture (which I began weekly in November). If nothing happens in the next three months then I will try Letrozole or clomid.

Depending on DP's SA results of course, but I suspect he's fine.

It seems difficult to get Letrozole on the NHS as Clomid is cheaper but from what I have read, it has fewer side effects. I had a few hot flushes and less CM than usual but nothing too remarkable. That was on the lowest dose (2.5mg).

The immunology tests did come back positive so I am being treated for that now. It's not something that many fertility clinics offer, although it is becoming more widespread. It was something I read about and a few things rang alarm bells for me so I pursued it privately.

I have acu as well (although not the Chinese herbs). I've been doing that since last April and it has made my cycles more regular, although obviously I haven't got a BFP yet.

runninggal thanks for your positive story. It is always good to hear of good results.

I took Letrazole in similar circumstances - I was ovulating and there was nothing obviously wrong from my blood tests etc. I am in Canada and the fertility clinic that we used preferred Letrazole to Clomid as they had seen better results with it. We had cycle monitoring as well. My doctor was using the Letrazole to try to get 2 eggs and improve my chances of conceiving.

On the second cycle using Letrazole we got two eggs that we were looking for and DD was conceived on that cycle. So in my circumstances it did seem to work.

I wasn't keen on taking the drugs but I didn't have any side effects and luckily I only had to do it for two cycles.

Good luck

Thanks ISeeShapes - that's encouraging. I'm beginning to think I should take the clinic more seiously if they are offering Letrazole and I think it would be best to do it with them monitoring so there's no doubt that I'm hitting ov.

Thanks all for joining in this thread it has helped me answer some personal questions.

Eurochick - I think the acupuncture will stand you in good stead when you get that imminent BFP. No need for herbs if you are now taking prescribed meds but keep up acu for all the other reasons. I would also recommend you keep going during pregnancy up til birth and after if you're feeling flush! I had it throughout pg for DS and was extremely well. Even when he was breech at 38w acu helped turn and I had a wonderful homebirth in a pool, no intervention of any description other than to cut the cord!

Thanks shapes. It is always good to hear positive stories. I'm about to start my second round of Letrozole today.

*beangrower" that sounds like a great birth. When I started with the acu, I said I would give it a go for up to 6 months, but when I hit that point I kept going as I felt like it was having a beneficial effect on my cycle. I can't imagine now going now. I'm glad you got some helpful answers on here. Good luck to you.