clomid success?

[rachie12]

Hi, im on my second month of 50g clomid hoping it works this time, i have been trying to become pregnant for 2 years now i already have a 3 year old daughter and they are not sure why im struggling to become pregnant again. I would love to hear some good news about clomid i dont think i can take anymore negative tests :( The hospital have only given me 3 months of 50g and said if it does not work they wont give me anymore! so i dont no what they do next. i havent really had many side effects from it just headaches. If anyone can let me know there experience that would be great thanks
Rach xxx

[Lottystar]

Nikki, if this is just your GP ask for a second opinion. I had to go through two GPs before I eventually found one who was willing to help. You should be entitled to the same treatment that the rest of us have. It sounds like you have a variant of PCOS to me if your periods are irregular. I'm not a Dr but that's the common cause. Have they given you blood tests or offered a scan of your ovaries? That's what I imagine they will do after the three months if you're still not pregnant. If I were you I'd ask to see another GP, most doctors investigate after a year of infertility.

Welcome Anroga, you're at the same stage as me. Second cycle of clomid though I am day 14 now and still no ovulation ... Also I have been crazy, tearful woman this month too! 100mg made me pretty cranky and I feel sorry for my hubby. Are you being monitored with blood tests / scans? Good luck to you, 3 years is a long time xxx

[Nikkilouise26]

Lottystar, I have had bloods to check thyroid and a 21 day to check if I ovulate and it showed I did they was 6/£ months ago and still nothing! I also had a scan done a fortnight ago and it was fine so it all down to when I ovulate and trying to catch it I guess which is hard when I don't know when period is due and opk have failed me!! They said after 3 months they will send me for the dye test thing and also check partners sperm but fingers crossed things happen before then I just need to stop stressing out easier said than done though.

[Lottystar]

I'd really recommend Agnus Castus whilst your waiting for other treatment Nikki. It's helped me more than Clomid so far although that was before my periods completely disappeared. Read up about it online, it is worth it and you'll feel like you're doing something. Are your hormone levels all okay? That's the only problem they found with me and why I am not ovulating - the diagnosed PCOS is the reason I'm getting treatment.

Kerry you can't take Agnus Castus whilst on Clomid but it's a natural remedy which women have taken since ancient times to improve the regularity of their cycles. It did help me with my first baby when my periods were just irregular xx

[Nikkilouise26]

Lottystar, I read up On it and it say to stop using once you have ovulated but that's my problem I don't know when I ovulate lol

[kerrylou84]

Nikki tell your partner to book in with GP and to ask for a sperm count test. They should have done this months ago instead of telling you to just keep trying! And they can't give you chlomid without checking your partner first......well that's what happened with me anyway. My doctor has been great, he deals with fertility, so my usual doctor pointed me in his direction.
When I got told to lose weight I was feeling really low, so I went and asked for a second opinion, but got told by that doctor to stick with the doctor who was dealing with me.
Did anyone else get told to lose weight? I was 12.6 and got down to 11.6, was really hard but then for some reason my mind just switched and I was just completely focused on healthy eating xxx

[Nikkilouise26]

I'm going to get him do it when he is home he's had to go to London for 2 wks :( but soon as he is home I'm sending him to go and get checked!

[Lottystar]

That's good advice Kerry - it's the first thing my Doctors did actually, after all it may not just be you Nikki and you guys need the full picture to get the right treatment. Good stuff on the weight loss, funny how focussing on something you want so badly gives you momentum x

I never stopped taking Agnus Castus around ovulation time as I didn't know when it was either. It isn't a problem on the doses you take from a herbal remedy. The benefits really, really outweigh any unlikely negative. If you're watching your cycle anyway you'd very likely notice the difference in your body if your pregnant and I'm sure you'd be regularly testing anyway so just stop taking then. That's just what I did and it worked for me when I still ovulated occasionally - it got me from 2 periods a year to 8. That's quite a difference xx

[Nikkilouise26]

Ill look to get some thanks you have been great help the both of you :)

[kerrylou84]

So does that agnus cactus help you ovulate or get pregnant? And where can I get it from?
There's still no sign of my period........and no symptoms of anything.....apart from I am sick of getting up during the night for the toilet! Sometimes 3 times I'm getting up, even though I don't really drink much xxx

[Nikkilouise26]

Me another question to haha would I still be able to take my supplements ( sanatogen) while taking Angus cataus?

[anroga]

Thanks for your message Lottystar. No they are not monitoring me as I ovulate naturally anyway. I was diagnosed 10 years ago with PCOS and put straight on metformin, in that time my periods returned and blood tests confirmed that I ovulate naturally every month. My specialist said while we decide about IVF that she would put me on 2 cycles of clomid to possibly make me produce more eggs and raise the chances of conceiving, 1st cycle nothing so I am really hoping this 2nd cycle will work otherwise it is IVF which we have to pay for as my partner has two kids from a previous relationship (which I don't think is fair as I haven't got any children!) I just wondered if anyone knew if the clomid works better the 2nd cycle? Sorry to hear you are in the same position as me, I have been just the same tetchy, depressed and so emotional, crying at everything! I feel sorry for my partner too. How long have you been trying for? xx

[kerrylou84]

Hi anroga. That is the same as me, won't be able to get help with IVF on NHS as my partner has other children. It is so unfair and I think whoever came up with that idea needs to give their heads a wobble and get priorities right........boob jobs on NHS? Yeah no bother........help these lovely couples to conceive? Noooooo!
I've had 3 cycles of chlomid but now at a standstill as my period hasn't come, and I'm now on day 36!
Xxx

[Lottystar]

Argh, lost my post twice this morning after typing lots to reply to you ladies! It will all probably pop up once I've sent it a third time...

Nikki, you're fine with supplements like folic acid :)

KerryLou, only try Agnus Castus if not on clomid - too much going on with your hormones and it's really not advised from what I have read online.

Anroga, I see. That sucks about no help with IVF, it is not fair if one partner has not had a child already. I note with interest that you were on metformin before - I'm seriously considering asking to try it as if I can kick start my periods I've naturally fallen pregnant before - just need to ovulate again and I'm not sure clomid is working for me. No positive opk result so far this month, day 15 now. Also I think I may be sectioned if they up my dose as yes, I have read clomid is culminative. Good luck ladies xxx

[anroga]

Hi Kerrylou thanks for coming back to me - it is so unfair isn't it, I could understand it to a certain extent if we already had a child together ....quite right about the boob jobs etc all done on the NHS but no help for us couples trying to conceive - we have already paid to see our specialist we saw on the NHS privately for a consultation and that cost £200-00, she then confirmed that with the drugs IVF is £5000 so at the moment my head is swimming trying to work out what to do next, I am hoping for success with this second cycle of clomid - I have everything crossed for you :) x

[anroga]

Hi Lottystar, I would definately ask about the metformin I am still on it now and will be forever, that is definately what got me periods starting again, the cysts on my ovaries reduced and then when we started trying blood tests confirmed I was ovulating naturally which I thought would never happen! I have the specialist I saw all those years ago about my PCOS to thank for that as he knew what he was doing! Reading all of your comments makes me wonder why I am on clomid when I am ovulating naturally x

[Lottystar]

I'm really no expert but maybe clomid may increase the number of follicles / eggs so thus in turn increase your chances of conception? I'm pretty sure metformin only works on the insulin levels PCOS screws up so it isn't directly a fertility drug, it just rights your body so you start to ovulate again. My problem is that my hormone levels are screwed by my PCOS so I think Metformin will help. It is so luck of the draw as to what Dr you see and how much they know about PCOS and fertility - unless you pay of course xx

[anroga]

Yes you are right that is what the clomid does I remember her saying that now (you get so weighed down with all the information sometimes!) - and you a right with the metformin it isn't a fertility drug as such but it helps with your insulin levels and your hormones (lowers the testorone level which is usually high) which then gets your ovaries doing what they are supposed to do! It might be worth you paying to see a specialist because as you say gps in general don't seem to know alot about PCOS x

[Lottystar]

By the way Anroga and Nikki, a few of us have "added as friends" on FB if you want some silent (pm messaging) support at anytime as it is a lonely, crappy process. You can find me via my email [email protected] xx

[Lottystar]

Can your GP proscribe metformin without the need of a fertility consultant? If so I'm sure my GP will help, I've finally found a really proactive one and she was surprised I was not already on metformin but I was already being seen by a consultant fertility Dr at the hospital - alas since the very first and only meeting it's only been contact with the fertility nurses for prescriptions and they are utterly disinterested x

[anroga]

Well it was a long time ago but I went to the GP as I had come off the pill and had no periods for a year, I also had put on weight, hair growth the usual, he said that he thought I had PCOS but that I needed to be referred to a specialist (I had private healthcare at the time so went ahead and got a referral). The specialist was the one that confirmed I have PCOS and prescribed me the metformin. So I think you would have to get a referral from your GP to see a specialist on the NHS for PCOS. I would love that with the FB will e-mail you as you say it can be such a lonely, miserable process and I have already felt better since joining this yesterday I don't feel so alone especially as I am surrounded with friends and family with kids who try to understand but cant possibly x

[Lottystar]

Thanks, I'm definitely going to pursue the metformin avenue as I think it really may be more the answer for me... I'll have to wait for my day 21 test results etc to confirm but I just have a real hunch that clomid is not working with my body - instead my body seems to just be reacting against it and I feel bleh

I'm in the lucky position of having had two children naturally - it was only after the birth of my second boy that my periods completely disappeared. So I can appreciate both sides of the coin, although as I've said before I utterly take my hat off to you ladies going through this for the first baby. It's tough enough in my position xxx

[kerrylou84]

Well ladies I have been to the doctors. He said its quite possible that the pain I was feeling on day 25 was ovulation pain, and I should be due my period in the next couple of days. But fingers crossed it doesn't come.
Also, I have 3 months left with chlomid, and if that doesn't work the he is going to refer me to the international centre for life. They will investigate why I'm not getting pregnant, but for treatment it will cost around £3500! Let's hoping we don't have to get that far xxx

[anroga]

Hi Kerrylou wishing you shedloads of luck for the next few days with no period! If not it is great you still have three chances with the clomid before you have to take a further steps and cost. I will keep you posted with this 2nd cycle of clomid for me, start ovulating on Friday so it is going to be like a milatary procedure over the next few days in our household! :) x

[Lottystar]

Wow ovulation on day 25 KerryLou? What did your day 21 results say? You haven't be diagnosed with PCOS right? Is it unexplained infertility? That's a lot of money to find ... As Anroga says you have three cycles left yet so try to be positive :)

Hehe, funny how enforced rumpy pumpy can become a bit of a chore... My hubby and I were enjoying the intimacy over the few months but it can be a bit off putting when you're scheduled in to to speak. I hope your military operation is productive Anroga xx

[kerrylou84]

Hi Lotty, yes I was tested for PCOS but all was negative. I was just told I wasn't ovulating but no reasons as to why.
I didn't go for my day 21 blood test as previous results have been really good, so I thought I didn't need to......but bloody typical this happens. I will definitely be going for bloods next month!

I don't know if any of you girls believe in this kind of thing, but I am going to see a spiritualist on Friday, so hoping they can give me a few answers. I am sceptical, but if they say something that is true then I will be a believer.
Xxx