Clomid experiences

[LouP19]

I've been prescribed Clomid for 3 months. We've been trying to conceive for 2.5 years, I'm 35, husband 37. I've had a lap and dye, husband had sperm tests, all ok.

During the 3 months I'm not being monitored at all. I feel a bit abandoned really,.....! I don't use OPKs or chart temperatures because I tried that last year and got stressed and obsessed by dates etc, so we try to have sex every other day from Day 11. Spoken to my consultant and he says this is a good strategy, as he says he couldn't exactly predict when I would ovulate on Clomid anyway.

Has anyone else been given Clomid and been told more or less to 'get on with it'?

Thanks in advance. :-)

Hi LouP

I guess it might depend on if there are any issues prior to clomid - my blood test showed I wasn't ovulating and so I had a blood test on day 21 during my firt month on clomid and it came back again as not ovulating. They doubled my dose, next blood test showed I was. After that they didn't arrange any more tests for me.
I haven't had any scans or doctors appointments either
.
I've been charting for the past 2 months and although it means it is always on your mind I'm so glad I've done it. I was convinced I wasn't ovulating again this month but my temp has gone up and it looks like I've ovulated on day 21 - whch maybe indicates why previous tests came back negative.I'm not going to chart again next month but now know we need to be having sex day 16+ ish.

And snap, I'm nearly 35, husband is 37 and we've been trying 2.5 years!

LouP

Is this private or NHS?.

In your case I would seek a second opinion from a gynae at another subfertility unit. Its fair to say that some of them are far better than others.

Do you have a diagnosis of the underlying problem?.

Why did they do the lap and dye in the first instance - its usually done when endometriosis is suspected.

You should be monitored whilst on clomid as you otherwise have no way of knowing whether its working or not. No monitoring at all is completely unacceptable and you're being fobbed off here.

Any test result for both of you done over 6 months ago should be discounted; both of you should have up to date test results. Do you also feel as a couple you have been adequately investigated?.

Thanks Caipirin,... appreciate hearing your experience. Are you trying for your first? We are! Getting the stage where everyone I know has had a baby,...... :-(

I've had numerous blood tests, all indicate I have ovulated, so that might be why we're not being monitored.

My problem is irregular cycles, I can vary from 26 to 36 days,...... hence why we try to have 'regular sex' rather than charting for exact days. I did get pregnant 18 months ago, and it was a month where we had sex every other day from day 10 - no stress, no timing, I didn't even lie down for half an hour with my legs in the air,.... and it worked (though I sadly miscarried at 9 weeks).

I just get anxious when I start using OPKs or temping, don't know why. Get a bit obsessed too,...... convinced the more obsessed I get the less likely it is to happen!

Hello Attila,
We're under the NHS. They suspected I may have endo, hence the lap and dye, but everything looked ok. Husband has had 2 sperm tests in the last 5 months, both ok. So there is no clear reason as to why we haven't conceived. I had a miscarriage 18 months ago, so they know I can get pregnant naturally.
Also, all my blood tests have indicated I ovulate. I have irregular cycles, so this has been a problem in the past, but the consultant said that Clomid may help regulate these.
I felt quite flat after our appointment,.... they were great at investigating us, but now there's nothing wrong I feel like we've been sent away with our tails between our legs.

I am on my first cycle. Have PCOS and was referred to the Assisted Conception Unit at Guys. Had HyCoSy scan then scan on day 12 and day 14 to check follicles/uterus lining (as Clomid can thin lining). Then day 21 bloods. As these were good, I am now on a further 5 months of Clomid without further monitoring.

So at least one cycle should be monitored - or at least until you get one positive ovulation.

There is something wrong though; something is causing your irregular cycles to happen. Do they think polycystic ovaries or polycystic ovarian syndrome are possible causes?.

It seems like you do not have a proper diagnosis of the underlying problem.

Why did they prescribe clomid to you, was this properly explained?. Usually clomid is prescribed when there are problems with ovulation and irregular cycles usually tally with this. Have they done any internal ultrasound scans to see what your uterine cavity and ovaries look like?. Also clomid can be given out sometimes when they don't know what else to do with you!.

As said before monitoring on clomid should be done as you have no way of knowing whether its working or not otherwise. I would also consider seeking a second opinion from another NHS unit particularly if you attend one in a small/medium sized town.

Thanks Attila. Think you're right, they're not really sure what the problem is, so this is their next step for people like us. We're fit, healthy, all the tests came back ok, so they've said they'll give us Clomid for 3 months and if it's not successful we can have IUI,....

I've explained to them till I'm red in the face about irregular cycles, but as it tends to go in phases (i.e. I'll have 4 months of 26 days, then 6 months of 34, and so on) they are not concerned. I also had a Transvaginal scan and that all looked ok. At the moment we sit in the 'unexplained' category, which is frustrating to say the least.

I think I will monitor my first cycle on clomid myself with OPK - nothing to lose, and at least when I go back to see them in October (yes, October!!) I can tell them if I had any results.

I get more advice and useful anecdotes on here than I've had from my consultant,... :-(

We were ttc for over a year when we were referred to our NHS fertility clinic. They did the various tests and prescribed me with clomid. I wasn't fully monitored as such, except I had to do a wee sample once a week, freeze it, then hand in a months worth at a time. Then they would test it to see retrospectively if I have ovulated. It was very fustrating. I was on 50mg which was increased to 75mg. the problem with us was that I wasn't ovulating very frequently, my cycles varied from 40 days to 6 months! The clomid did help regulate them to a certain degree to anything between 35 and 45 days. I ended up pregnant after 8 rounds of clomid, but sadly had a mmc. We did another 6 rounds with no success, and then moved onto ovulation induction. This involved injecting the same follicle stimulation drugs as in IVF but in much smaller quantities. I was scanned every 3 days and then when there was 1 or 2 suitable follicles, I was given a trigger shot to make me ovulate, and we would be sent home to shag for Britain.

We were only going to get 3 goes at this, and then we would be looking at IVF. Thankfully, the 2nd cycle worked and my DD is now 2.7 years old. We didn't think we've have another child, but here I am 38 weeks pregnant with a naturally conceived baby.

I do think just sending you in your way with clomid and no monitoring can be a bit futile. I would be asking what other options there are, would they consider monitoring? What happens after the 3 cycles are up?

Consider also doing some monitoring of your own. I bought a Clearblue Digital Fertility Monitor and found it great. It helped pinpoint my cycle (I kept ridiculously detailed excel spreadsheets!) and it is okay to use when taking clomid. Also take a look at 'taking care of your own fertility' book. Sounds daft but it really helped me understand the whole cycle thing and how 'we' work down there! The author advocates temping which wasn't really for me, but it was a real eye opener.

Ive waffled on and not sure if I've actually answered your questions. But basically, keep in at your docs and push for some kind of monitoring, perhaps ask about ov induction too? But ultimately, I hope you get lucky soon. I was 37 when I had my DD and I'm now 40 so whilst age can be a barrier, it's not always!! Best of luck!

Thank you Sleepy, lovely to hear your story, and some good news too. :-) Appreciate your advice.

Me and my husband tried to have another baby for about 4 years. I took clomid for 5 days and I ovulated and found out 3 weeks latter I'm having a baby and recently at 8 weeks along I found out I'm having twins - https://euhealth24.com/drug/clomid