Clomid & Ovulation Sticks - help!

[laurielou]

Morning all, I'm hoping for some words of wisdom.

I've taken my first dose of Clomid this month. My consultants have never found any problems with my ovulation, just after 3 years of TTC with nothing they decided to make me "super fertile" (their words).

I had a scan on day 9 which showed 2 decent sized follicles.

So to maximise chances of winning this month I've been using ovulation sticks.

I have used them sporadically in the past, & with them & EWCM decided I ovulate about day 17.

The leaflet with the ov sticks says that they can be used when taking Clomid.

Well I'm now on CD 21. Still no ovulation surge & no EWCM. What gives?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

Clomid's main and only job is to make the ovaries work harder. It does not necessarily make you super fertile in their words. Clomid can encourage production of LH; as the OPK reads LH the kit could well be reading that increase. I would therefore not be using opk's in your particular circumstances.

One question I would ask of you is whether you feel you have been adequately investigated as a couple. To be given clomid and seemingly just left to get on with it is not good practice. You should be monitored whilst on clomid with regular monitoring via blood tests and or internal ultrasounds to see that an egg is infact leaving the ovary.

What tests have you both had done to date?. You should also have up to date test results for both of you - anything done over six months ago should be discounted.

Thanks for your reply. I've had 1 set of blood tests about 7 months ago, HSG & internal camera. The boyf has also had sperm analysis.

The FC have given me 6 months of Clomid & kind of left us to it. They wanted me to have a scan after first dose to make sure dosage was correct. They seemed happy with that. Maybe a call to the FC is in order again.

Once again, thanks for replying.

Hi,

I would give them a call and be asking them some difficult questions. It is all too easy to be fobbed off besides which they have given you treatment without seemingly any diagnosis of the underlying problem.

You both need up to date test results for both the blood tests and semen analyses (he needs more than one of these done as well).

It is not acceptable at all to be given six months of clomid and being left to it; I would actually now consider getting a second opinion from another unit (in the beginning at least you are safer going under the NHS) as you have not been adequately investigated.

BTW is this a private clinic you've been attending?. I only ask this as some private clinics as well as being expensive can offer very poor quality of treatment.

No, its NHS. Thank you so much for this advice, I'm completely clueless really & have no-one in RL who has been through this to compare.

I will contact the FC this afternoon.

Thanks again,x

It is fair to say that some NHS Units are far better than others. You may be better off going to a major NHS unit in a big city.

Would seek a second opinion in any event; you need a diagnosis first and foremost.

Hi laurielou,

I conceived my DD with clomid and I am shocked that you were given a 6 month supply and then left to it. It was prescribed to me after a diagnosis of pcos, 5 years of trying to conceive and a ridiculous amount of tests for both me and my DH. I am especially concerned that you were given a 6 month dose at the outset. Most FCs will prescribe a month at a time (or 5 tablets at a time) as clomid increases your risk of uterine cancer. My FC told me that clomid is not recommended for longer than 5 or 6 cycles in a woman's lifetime because of the association with uterine cancer.

I would second what Attila has said and would seek a second opinion. From what you have said, it does not sound like you have been given the best possible advice.

On a lighter note, DH and I were lucky enough to conceive on our first course of clomid. I wouldn't bother with the ovulation sticks. I know you are trying to do everything possible to help you conceive, but sometimes the extra worry and stress of it all can actually prevent this from happening. Relax and have fun trying to make a baby. Good luck!

Thanks annie nice to hear a success story.

attila I am actaully at University Hospital in Cardiff, doesn't get much bigger round here! Am pretty p*ssed off with them if truth be known after what you've both said. No-one has mentioned only 6 months of Clomid throughout lifetime, no-one has mentioned increased cancer. In fact only side affects I've seen are those on the paper with the tablets.

Feel a bit of a numpty for just taking their word for it. Classic case of "doctor knows best" here.

Don't be too hard on yourself laurielou - the desire to have a baby can be pretty intense especially when dealing with infertility. You grasp on to whatever quick fix is offered and google the consequences later.

That's very true annie......

Laurie

I've just been prescribed clomid today too - also for 6 months and asked to go back for progesterone test on day 21 of first cycle.

However, I am ovulating normally. My partner has low normal forms so we've been told if clomid doesnt work, we have to go for a more complex form of IVF and we may not get funding for that until we've tried for 2 years!

I read conflicting evidence online about how effective Clomid is for women who are already ovulating so I'm confused too!