Refused clomid

[Phoebenooby]

Hi all
I am posting on behalf of my 30 year old daughter. She and her husband have been trying for a baby for 6 years. They have recently had all the tests and although she has regular periods (28-35 days) she isn't ovulating. She has been told to either have the HyCoSy or go straight for IVF. I advised her to visit the GP to ask for clomid first but the DR refused saying it can cause hypertension. She doesn't suffer from high blood pressure at all. Any one else been refused and then managed to get it ? Surely worth a try. Thanks

Are they in the UK?.

Which sort of Dr are you referring to?. Her GP or her fertility consultant at the hospital?. They should at the very least be under the care of a gynae consultant specialising in subfertility.

Why have they suggested IVF in the first instance and why Hycosy as well?. Sometimes IVF is also suggested as well if there are possible male factor issues.

I would not think they have had all the tests done either I am sorry to say given the information provided. Some tests can and do get missed and some couples are simply not adequately investigated.

I would ask them to consider getting a second opinion along with a proper diagnosis. They need a diagnosis first and foremost. Both of them should be tested in tandem with each other.

Have not heard of clomid itself causing possible hypertension but she should be monitored closely whilst on this drug because it is quite powerful stuff. It is not suitable for everyone who is not ovulating, I was not prescribed it either due to unsuitability. It is usually only given as well for a maximum of six months after which time other treatments are tried.

Hi they are in the uk. They have had all the tests bloods for her and also sperm for him. She was advised that from the 2 blood tests she did not
Ovulate. Clomid was not mentioned or offered at the fertility clinic. We returned to the GP as friends I know were given clomid prior to further more invasive procedures. As she will only get one cycle of IVF on the nhs I don't know why they don't offer cheaper treatments before IVF.

I feel your pain for your daughter and son in law. They can if they afford it go to a private clinic as self referrals. Many clinics do a one stop fertility check. Also a relatively cheap alternative is reflexology to help regulate hormones for your daughter and also acupuncture. Dietary changes can be good too eg. cutting out all caffeine in tea, coffee and chocolate. Good book is getting pregnant faster by Marilyn Glenville. Good luck x

Clomid is usually the first port of call for non-ovulation. Some drs even offer it to "buy time" before spending NHS funds on IVF for people who are ovulating. She needs to see a different dr.

However I would agree that it should be monitored when prescribed so a fertility clinic would be a better source than a GP.

Has the reason for anovulation been identified? If it's PCOS a low GI diet and losing weight can sometimes kick start ovulation.

Hi
No she doesn't have PCOS, she's a size 10. I assumed the doc would try every avenue before the very expensive last resort IVF. The lady doctor said the best cure for unexplained infertility was IVF !

Hi you don't have to be overweight to have PCOS- I have PCOS and am size 8-10 . She should get an ultrasound scan to check

KC11 if they self refer themselves to a private clinic, have you an idea of the cost for initial consultation? Can they use NHS. Funding at all if they do need IVF? Thanks

Unexplained infertility is actually no diagnosis at all; all this means is that they have failed to find out what is wrong. Often it is a "diagnosis" given to patients when they as a couple have not been adequately investigated. I doubt very much that they have had an actual battery of tests as well.

I would concur that you do not have to be overweight to have PCOS; there are thin PCOSers as well.

They need a diagnosis first and foremost along with a second opinion.

In the meantime could your dd try soy isoflavones they work like a natural clomid. You can buy then from Tescos for around £4.

I asked the GP this week if she had definitely been tested for PCOS and she said the test results showed no evidence of PCOS. She was scanned about 5 years ago but that was because she suffered localised pain in her sides and they just checked for problems but didn't find the cause. They said it was probably IBS. She still suffers with pain.

My daughter and hubby were sent to the fertility clinic attached to the JR oxford. No further tests were done, they were offered Hycosy and or IVF, she was to decide and ring for an appointment!!

I thought isoflavones were for menopausal symptoms?

If she's not ovulating, she doesn't have unexplained infertility! She has a very clear explanation for why she is not getting pregnant. No eggs=no possibility of conception. Ovulation induction is the obvious thing to try before IVF. It's a lot cheaper and a lot less invasive.

I'm also a size 10 but was diagnosed with PCOS as a teenager. I have never struggled with my weight. The pain could be ovulation pain, or possibly endometriosis. But it sounds like this has been tested for from your later posts.

An initial private consultation will be about £200. Any blood tests or scans will be on top of this. A round of IVF can cost from about £3000 to £15000, depending on the clinic and extras during treatment.

That what they are marketed for phoebe but there is lots of anecdotal evidence that they can work.

Thanks for all the info. She started her period 3 days ago. If she started to take the SOYA ISOFLAVONES how much does she take a day and for how many days? I tried tesco online but it was unavailable. We have a local holland and Barrett

I would suggest starting on day 2-6 or 3-5 you take double the clomid amount so I think the tesco ones are 40 mg so she 3 a day for the first cycle. I have taken them myself I took them at night as I got a slight headache. If you google " soy isoflavones natures clomid" there is plenty of information online. You can get them in holland and barrett but not sure of the strength.

Just noticed she started her period 3 days ago if you bought some tommorow she could take them days 4-6 it's just the other days are slightly preferable. Day 5 would be too late to start.

Thanks. I have googled it loads but a lot of advice on amount is conflicting. So if she started them tomorrow she just takes them for 3 days and then stops? And then again day 3-5 of her next period? She is away for the night so will send her this info and get the tablets tomorrow.

No problem I really feel for your dd she needs clomid really but at least it has a chance of working whilst she is waiting.
I am not a doctor and can only speak from personal experience but I did not experience any side affects other than a headache.
Your dd needs to take them for five days sorry to confuse you (am tired) so days 4-8 then days 3-7 on the next cycle.

Hi Pheobynooby,

re your comment:-

"I asked the GP this week if she had definitely been tested for PCOS and she said the test results showed no evidence of PCOS. She was scanned about 5 years ago but that was because she suffered localised pain in her sides and they just checked for problems but didn't find the cause. They said it was probably IBS. She still suffers with pain"

Your DD needs up to date test results. If endometriosis is indeed present, it would not have been detected in such a scan. The usual way this is diagnosed is via a laparoscopy operation (keyhole surgery). Also endometriosis can be misdiagnosed as IBS.

Self medicating with herbal stuff is not always a good idea as it can make any underlying hormonal problems worse. If she does want to try this, she would be better off seeking the advice of a properly qualified medical herbalist.

I agree with Atilla. I hadn't noticed that the scan was 5 years ago! Things could have changed since then. And as she says, endo could only be diagnosed by a lap (my earlier post was unclear on this - I was half asleep when I typed it and referring to PCOS, not endo, but the paragraph is rather muddled).

In short, she needs to be properly investigated and it doesn't sound like that has happened.

Agree with Atilla. Self medicating is not the sensible way to proceed.

You mention blood tests and an ultrasound form 5 years ago. The alone is not enough if the diagnosis is still unexplained.

If nothing else, your daughter needs to speak to her unit again. If she's been offered ivf does she have the nurses contact numbers? Can she ask the sec for another appt with the cons?

Incidentally, round my way, GP's don't prescribe clomid. It needs monitoring that they cannot offer. Your daughter should ask her hospital team why clomid is not suitable for her (if it isn't)

I went to holland and Barrett but the tablets were 750mg, I am confused as I thought the dose should be 80mg. Are the H and b almost 10 times as strong? Or am I confused? Didn't buy them anyway so have missed it for this cycle. She is going to ring the clinic this week. If no luck may consider the tablets if someone can explain if 750mg is a huge dose, or am I working it out wrong? Thank you all for your help.

If you look on the label it will say the standardised amount of soy isoflavones is only 23 mg . The correct dose to start on would be over 100mg so five tablets. You can take up to 200mg but best to start as low as possible.

Thank you! I'm not normally that stupid! just couldn't see the wood for the trees!