Anyone on clomid (past or present) without pcos or endo?

[Moomin]

I've just finished my first round of clomid for unexplained infertility. I'm on day 9 of my cycle.
Feeling a bit down about it for a number of reasons: firstly, our consultant who is a great bloke has been seconded to another hospital with no warning and all my check ups and scans that I was due to have are now cancelled, and I'm now taking the clomid 'blind', as it were. I know there are several mumsnetters that have taken it without being checked and I spose I want a bit of reassurance. I've got another month's worth to take if this round doesn't work then I need to try and get some sense out of the hospital about where we stand with not having our consultant around for the forseeable future. I'm complaining to the hospital tomorrow, btw.
Other concern is that with all the clomid success stories that I've read on mumsnet, clomid was used to kick start ovulation in the case of pcos, or endo was causing infertility. There's nothing actually physically stopping us getting pg, except that we seem to be rubbish at it! I'm now just worried that another egg or two won't actually help and we won't know if it's working or not now because of the checks being cancelled.
Typical worrying of a long-term neurotic ttc-er, but someone please humour me!

Moomin - What dosage are you currently taking, when was the last time you had your ultrasounds, do you have the number of the x-ray dept at your hospital, could you be really cheeky and tell them you still need follicle tracking on day (whatever you have had previously, usually days 8 & 12), when was the last time you had a blood test. How long have you been on clomid. Sorry for all the questions, but I too am taking clomid but for PCOS, all I have to do is call x-ray and advise them that I need follicle tracking, they take my name and date of birth and always say they were expecting my call.

Yes, I can't believe that NO-ONE can't do my tracking just because my own consultant is away. I've missed Day 8 but if I kick up enough of a stink I might get a day 12 scan. This is my first round of clomid so I've had no tracking scans so far. As I said before, I ovulate normally and have had ultrasounds and blood tests to confirm this. The csnas were just to make sure I wasn't over or under-reacting to the clomid. I've been on 100mg from day 2 to day 6; the same scheduled for next month.

Moomin, you are allowed upto 6 cycles (6 months worth), if for any reason a cycle doesn't work (no follicles have developed an egg for release) then that month is not counted, so you are allowed an extra month, you need to know who has taken over the consultancy post at the hospital and you need to contact his/her secretary and explain the situation, about you being left in limbo and all that, explain that you are worried about not being monitored and tell them that you are down for more treatment. I'm taking 100mg, but this is my 3rd cycle, my 1st lot didn't work, my 2nd lot produced 2 massive follicles that released eggs and I ovulated for the 1st time in nearly 4 years. The blood test measures ovulation stuff as well, and you really need your scan. Why don't you ring the hospital, ask to be transferred to x-ray and state that you were a patient of Dr XXXX and would like to know how you stand with follicle tracking, they may give you the tel number of a gynie still working at the hospital and then just demand to see him/her. The other way round is to make an appointment to see your GP and get them to contact the hospital on your behalf, it might get you somewhere if your own GP thinks that you've been left up the creek without a paddle, let me know how you get on, if you want to scream and shout, I'm here!!! , I start my 100mg today CD2

I actually think you are right to be concerned.

I would write a firm letter of complaint to the Chief Executive at the current hospital. You may well though have better treatment at a new unit because you've certainly been fobbed off at the current unit.

They should never have given you clomid without a firm diagnosis beforehand. If blood tests showed that you were infact ovulating normally, clomid can make you temporarily subfertile.

"Unexplained infertility" is infact no diagnosis at all; all this means is that the docs have so far failed to find out what is wrong. It is sometimes a "diagnosis" given in some cases simply because not enough investigative tests to date have been done.

Do you feel that either of you have been adequately investigated to date?. What tests have actually been carried out?. These are important issues that need addressing by the new unit in question.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

HTH

Hawaii

gosh 808state, you've got me a bit worried about the whole thing now! After my last post I rang the hospital and registered an intial telephone complaint and I was told someone would contact me later today. I then rang my consultant's secretary who's been left to try and sort out all this crap, so I feel really sorry for her! I asked if they knew whther a locum would be appointed soon and she didn't know. She rang me back half an hour later and said she'd spoken to my consultant as he is due to do a pre-arranged operating list tomorrow at our hospital. Whe she mentioned my name he said he'd fit me in for a scan before his list, 1st thing tomorrow morning - hurrah!
My intial post was asking about how common it is to prescribe clomid for 'unexplained fertility' so 808's post has scared me a bit. Dh has had 2 sperm tests and is ok; we have one dd who is nearly 3, so we know something works or has worked in the past! So far, I've had blood tests, ultrasounds and a lap&dye in June. The lap&dye revealed a spot of endo but not to the extent that it would affect fertility, in our consultant's opinion. I'm fairly confident in his ability - my dh works with him in theatre and speaks very highly of him, as do all of the staff I've spoken to.
What else should be done in the investigations before clomid should have been prescribed?

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Hi Moomin,

I took Clomid for unexplained infertility a few years ago (2001).We weren't offered any scans,& it was a battle just to get the clomid prescibed.

We were asked to keep temperature charts,but that was it.Although I ovulated,I didn't concieve,despite taking it for 6 months.

But the good news is,that I did concieve without any help in August 2002,sadly lost the baby,but by some miracle concieved again 7 weeks later.DD is now nearly one.

I'm a member of an on line infertility support group & out of 100 births,25 were 'natural conceptions' by women who had been told that for various reasons,they would never concieve without help.The site has a support group for women on Clomid.If you'd like the details,just email me & I'd be happy to pass them on.

Sending babydust your way.
Mirage

Phew that's a bit more reassuring - thanks twiglett and mirage. Mirage, I'll email you.
Twiglett - would there have been any test to indicate a hormone inbalance or deficit?
I guess I'll know more tomorrow anyway - what will the consultant be able to tell at this point? (It'll be CD11)

Hi Moomin, I was given clomid as I apparently wasnt ovulating (no tests were done to establish if this really were the case though, my consultant based his diagnosis on my irregular cycles). I had no scans whilst on clomid but used temp charting to follow my cycle and I did notice a temp rise which I presumed was ovulation. Then I had a day 21 blood test to see if I had and I was told I hadnt ovulated that month. Funnily enough, I got pregnant so the blood test must have been wrong! So....., IME tests arent always used and when they are they can give the wrong diagnosis anyway. That's not much help to you is it? All I can do is suggest you push for your scans, keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best. Good luck.

ps I conceived on my second cycle of clomid after 2.5 years of trying without so it obviously can work wonders

Here's an article from the usa which seems to give a pretty good run down on the use of clomid. I think that it sort of explains what 808state was saying. Basically, it says that you should establish whether or not and how you are ovulating before starting clomid. It seems that the clomid can interfere with the cervical mucus and this could potentially cause infertility problems. So, the main problem is that if you don't know why you can't get pregnant (ie it hasn't been established as being an ovulation problem) then once you've started the clomid and still aren't getting pregnant, it's hard to test for other causes besides ovulation because the symptoms can be masked by the clomid. It didn't sound to me like the potential problems would be permanent, just a delaying factor. So I wouldn't worry too much, but it might be worth doing the cervical mucus tests as suggested in the article.

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Hi Moomin,

Didn't mean to worry you; this was certainly not my intention. My main worry on initially reading your post is that you were fobbed off with something that may not be ideal for you treatment wise. Clomid has had so much success in the past that it can become used even when not ideal.

Did they tell you the results of the blood tests properly?. Did they ensure your LH and FSH levels were okay (in that they were the same?).

I read the consultant found some endo - was this lasered out anyway even though it was only a small spot?.

808 state is the phone code for Hawaii as a state. Am UK resident.

HTH and good luck to you

Hawaii

Hi 808 state
Thanks for your posts. Yes, my blood tests came back fine. The endo the consultant saw was actually what he called 'gathering' which meant that my bowel was stuck to the back of my uterus. There was no actually scarring or blockage but he said he could recognise it as being consistent with endo. He said that there is nothing to zap at the moment and I should be able to have another baby before he looks again at treating it, i.e. it shouldn't get in the way in the meantime.
I saw him this morning for my scan. Ihave one well-developed follicle in each ovary at the moment (and 2 more in one ovary that look a bit rubbish) and their size and the way my lining looks are consistent with ovulation around the weekend, which is just what I thought as it falls around day 14/15.
As far as clomid being appropriate goes, I think it is if you consider that my system might just need a 'kick-start' as Twiglett said; and I spose it isn't, in that there doens't seem to be much wrong with me and it's a pretty heavy-duty drug. The only side effects I've had so far is having headaches on day 3 and 4 of taking the tablets and it helped drinking loads of water. I'm fully expecting some pms symptoms to kick in soon, as I get it badly some months anyway.
TBH, our consultant is just trying to move things along for us I spose. We've been ttc for 19 months now and I'm now 36, which I know isn't ancient but time is ticking on. I do feel a lot more relaxed about the whole ttc thing now, much more so than I did 6-9 months ago so I'm just hoping the clomid will give us the helping hand we need.

Moomin, at least you've been seen, all the very best with ttc and we are all here for you , I hope to see you joining Strawberry and gang on the graduation list soon

Hi again Moomin,

I'm glad that your consultant is being pro active & not messing you around.If I remember rightly,I was told that Clomid will work in approx 70% of women who are taking it,so you stand a very good chance of being one of them.

I'll keep everything crossed for you.