Clomid TTC

[lucymc11]

Hi all,

I wondered if anyone who is currently TTC with Clomid fancied joining a TTC thread? I've had a look and can't see a recent one.

My husband and I have been trying for approx 2 years. I have PCOS and also had a congenital uterine defect (complete septum) which was operated on and fixed in November 2021.

We paid for a private appointment with a gynaecologist yesterday who prescribed 6 months of Clomid. I'm starting off cycle 1 with 50mg and will have a transvaginal ultrasound around CD 10-14.

My period is due in about 3 weeks but ofc with PCOS this is approximate and it might be early/late. My consultant also prescribed norithesterone to bring on a period if it's delayed. I'm tempted to start it soon so I can get cracking with Clomid - patience isn't my strong point!

Would be great to hear from anyone else in a similar position and hopefully share our BFPs in the coming months. TTC can be a lonely time and I've decided to not tell my family/friends about Clomid as it upsets me too much when I have to tell them I'm still not pregnant.

Welcome @IWillBeWaxingAnOwl . I am also on letrozole… first month and didn’t ovulate until day 35 so starting 5mg tomorrow. I ovulate naturally. Apparently I have PCO but not PCOS but this is my third baby. Other two were conceived without problems x

Morning Ladies - how is everyone's week going!? SO I don't want to get over excited but day 19 of my cycle (still yet to ovulate after my first round of clomid!) BUT my boobs have started hurting.

Now, I know this is NOT a positive OPK reading BUT it has never been as dark as this before. It is only reading on Premom as a .43 - has anyone else found they have peaked pretty soon after a line this "dark"? (for those of you new here, I have never seen a positive OPK so a little new to this)

Thank you for getting back to me - I wont be sensitive if you don't think this looks anywhere near peak x

@Ldougal92 on my first working letrozole cycle I peaked at cd18 and the day before looked like that. I was also ext excited as had never seen a positive

This is really reassuring thank you! Honestly the mind games these bloody OPK tests play. They are like the new scales for me - day ruiner!!

Hi everyone. I was wondering how you all got assessed to need clomid. Im not sure I’m ovulating and think I might have PCOS. I’ve always had long/irregular cycles, the last one was 37 days with 21 days between the clear blue static smiley and my period coming (which feels long to be a proper luteal phase and sounds more like a false positive OPK). I’ve read on these forums about day 7 bloods to see if ovulation is happening. Does the GP do these tests and potentially PCOS/prescribe clomid, or do they have to refer you on? Xxx

@Harper02 how are you getting on? Are you about to start your last cycle? Hope you’re ok x

@graceinc22 your gp should be able to diagnose you with pcos based on symptoms, a blood test and and a scan of your ovaries. In my experience, gp could not prescribe clomid as she's not qualified in that field being a general practitioner. I was referred to a gynaecologist who prescribed clomid. It was quite a long wait. I waited 3 years to on list waiting to see gynae just to get clomid, although covid restrictions I'm sure played a part . If your gp sends you on , I suggest paying for an initial private consultation with gynae if you can to get the ball rolling as the waiting on nhs is honestly overwhelming, then go back on nhs to forward with any further tests. Its what I wish I had done. It took a further few months for gynae to prescribe me clomid . She needed further blood tests, day 2 of cycle which is second day of your period and then day 21 to confirm if your ovulating or not.
Maybe these other women can clarify more if any different but I don't know anything about cycle day 7 blood test for checking if you've ovulated. That seems extremely premature

Hi @graceinc22 I paid something like £250 for a private fertility scan where my PCOS was diagnosed. The gynae did a transvaginal ultrasound to check my ovaries and a blood test. I had the results and diagnosis on the same day.

Hey ladies,

needing some advice, I have had what I thought was my period, started lightly late Sunday afternoon and got heavier over Monday/Tuesday and has started to tail off. I thought that was quite odd because my periods tend to be longer. As I thought it was my period I’ve started my second cycle of Chlomid from day 2. Since my period was tailing off and I’ve been feeling really emotional and just off I asked my husband to bring home some first response and this was my result… now I’m really worried that somethings wrong and don’t understand what’s going on? Possibly a fluke line but it’s there.. I don’t know whether to keep taking the Chlomid or hold off until I hear back from my fertility unit, which would potentially rule out my chances of pregnancy this cycle (if I’m not already.. but even if I am I shouldn’t be bleeding surely?) sorry for the ramble.

@TTCX2 wow, that's definitely a second line!

I wouldn't be too worried about the bleeding at this stage - especially as it's stopped now and you still have a second line. I've read stories from lots of women on where who thought they were having a period but they were actually pregnant.

If it was me, I'd personally stop taking the clomid for now until the pregnancy is confirmed.

What a mix of emotions for you but hopefully really good news!

I went privately (through work) to check why I wasn't having regular periods - they did a scan and diagnosed PCOS and then I went through my NHS dr to refer me onto a gynae and then onto a fertility specialist. x

I definitely see a line there - could the bleeding have been implantation bleeding? If I was you, I would also stop taking the clomid and go and get a few more tests :) x

@TTCX2 if I were you I’d do anywhere test and if it’s positive stop the clomid right away! Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻😬

@graceinc22 @MK85 diagnosis is based on 2/3 Rotterdam criteria (hormone dysregulation, cysts on ovaries, irregular periods)

GP can do: CD3 and CD21 bloods to show if ovulating, to show hormone profile (eg FSH, LH, testosterone, androstenedione, progesterone, prolactin...), bloods to check other causes (thyroid, b12, blood sugar, iron), refer to gynaecology for a scan.
Gynaecology can- scan, offer PCOS diagnosis
Neither will offer intervention until 1 year TTC. At 1 year TTC GP will refer to fertility clinic. I know this seems totally shit, given you know there are issues. I've been there.

Some people's GPs on the forum have given letrozole or clomid but they shouldn't without the monitoring of a fertility clinic. Why? 1) there are risks of OHSS which is painful and risks your fertility ongoing and 2) for clomid you can only have 6 rounds, you want them done right and monitored 3) their official and legal guidelines say they shouldn't

@TTCX2 that's a line... 🤞🤞🤞

This is so helpful, thank you xxxx

Thanks all- I have another first response for the morning though I’m really worried I’m just being stung with a bad test and I’m going to miss my Chlomid doses for nothing 😭

@IWillBeWaxingAnOwl
Here the criteria is a little different and you need to be trying for 2 years before gp will refer you for investigation.

I was never referred to a fertility clinic, only to gynaecology who has prescribed my clomid

@MK85 ahh that's interesting (and shit!) Here is 1 year if clear issues (like me not ovulating), 2 if no explanation on basic GP tests

Update - appointment went from face to face to a telephone consultation with dr fertility he said due to no period or pregnancy (im on day 49 of cycle) that the clomid didn’t work ☹️ He said as long as im happy to continue with another cycle he’ll post out the Provera prescription and for me to do my 2nd cycle as normal and go for the day 21 bloods - no increase in dose as yet and he’ll see me in clinic soon

so cycle 1 was a big fat fail and it’s delayed my period 👍🏼 Winning!!

he said continue with the myo inositol also which I was doing anyway as i find it helps so much

hope everyone’s well

bring on cycle 2 🤞🏻😬

As a side note does anyone have a link to buy Provera in case I struggle with the prescription at pharmacies and also what dose and how many days are you taking it for?

thanks 😊

Oh no @Jadeybabes86 sorry it didn't work. Hopefully cycle 2 is your cycle! 🤞

I managed to order some norethisterone the other day online via Dr Fox pharmacy. This is what my doctor prescribed to bring on a period - 5mg breakfast and dinner for 10 days. I haven't seen provera in stock with any of the online pharmacies recently but worth checking again incase they've got new stock in.

@Jadeybabes86 sorry to hear that. Your position sounds exactly like mine although they did scan me and told me my period was going to come and it did come on day 50. But they have increased my dose. One consultant said not to and then when my actual consultant came back from hols he said to increase it. Clear as mud isn’t it!! X

@lucymc11 thank you I did see the norethisterone available and I’ve had it before (Utovlan) when I was continuously bleeding and it did work but I’ve read that the ingredient in Provera is better for hormones and re setting the cycle so I’d rather try that this time just in case it’s more effective 🤞🏻

@Hoping43 aw gosh I know I’m day 49 now 🙄 I’d rather take them following a natural bleed but it just doesn’t feel likes she’s on her way so I’ll see what happens between now, the prescription coming in the post and me being able to get my hands on some beforehand 😂 I am tempted to increase my dose but megga scared about the side effects 😬 I think I’ll do this cycle on the same dose and go for the 21 day bloods and go from there 🤞🏻

@Jadeybabes86 I wouldn't increase a clomid dose without your doctor knowing but I'm not sure why they wouldn't up it when it hasn't worked?

@IWillBeWaxingAnOwl oh no I’m not upping the dose without his say so, I’m guessing he wants to assess the 21 day blood tests from cycle two to determine if I’ve ovulated on this dose and then go from there in terms of upping it, it’s a long old process especially when the clomid isn’t working and delaying periods I just want to get on with it and keep as much of it in my system as poss 🤪

how are you getting on?