CLOMID - taking for the first time, does it bring on earlier ovulation?

[ShouldKnowByFriday]

Have been prescribed 100mg from day 3-7 as low egg reserve (2 follicles on each side) and wonder if I should start this month or next as this month DP is going away on day of ovulation or the day before. I read somewhere on Mumsnet that one mum thought it triggered an earlier ovulation and would appreciate some advice. Also wanted to ask what happens to the follicles if they don't release an egg on any given month. Do they get absorbed by the body or are they lined up for the next month? Was also told that it is good to take Clomid on alternate months rather than every month and wondered why this is. If that is the case, why is it prescribed for 3 consecutive months?

I really would appreciate your answers the latest by tomorrow night as this evening is Day 2!!!

Thank you in advance...

First off do you have a diagnosis?.

What are your hormone levels like?

Clomid encourages the ovaries to work harder however, even with this an egg may not be released. This scenario is common with a condition called polcystic ovaries (whereby each ovary has many cystic follicles on it). Some of these follicles are dormant, perhaps one or two contain an egg and others contain hormones. Cystic follicles are reabsorbed by the ovaries, only for such follicles to return.

If you are not already under the care of a gynae I would insist on a referral particularly if you have no diagnosis of the problem either.

If you are given it for three months then it should be taken for the three consecutive months (not alternate months).

HTH

From what I read & remember Clomid may actually cause a late ovulation, 14 days or so after the last tablet, so if your last is on day 7, that would make it day 20-21. If you're thikning of timed intercourse then bear this in mind (also read some more on it as I might have remembered wrongly). Three consecutive months. Be aware of the rare possible side effects (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) and get in touch with your dr. Best of luck.

clomid did not affect when I ovulated in my cycle (took 50mg day 1 to 5) but I was ovulating late anyway .. HTH

Oh I do know the answer to another question

Clomid does not build up in your system it works for that cycle only .. so doing it on consecutive months would make no difference (that's what I was advised anyway) .. and in your lifetime you cannot take more than 12 cycles worth of clomid because of the risk associated with it .. so maybe every other month gives you a chance to conceive naturally?

Thank you everybody for your answers. I am under the care of a clinic but getting answers over the phone is difficult. I would need to go in and as my last cyle was long I didn't know when I was at the clinic that my DP would be about to leave for a business trip on the day of possible ovulation. Hence I did not ask the question re: late ovulation.

MeerkatUnite, I do not have PCOS. I have two children (conceived naturally and easily) but I am 40 now and have been told after TTC for almost 2 years that I have low egg reserve. I had a scan on day 3 and they saw 2 follicles on each side as opposed to 4-5 which is what they would like to see. My blood test showed E2 77 (day 3) which is a good oestrogen level however on day 4 my blood test showed 226 which the dr said he would have expected it to be higher, ie 290+ or 300+. Also my fsh level was 7.3 and was told that under 10 is good. So those are my results.

I have been told that Clomid is prescribed for 3-6 months because if it is going to work, it works generally in the first 3 months and a small percentage have a result in the following 3 months. If Clomid doesn't work during that time then injectables are then prescribed.

Thank you all once again.