Clomid when already ovulating-advice?

[ali763]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice. Me & dh have been trying to conceive for 12 months. Had loads of blood tests & a lap&dye & everything seems to be fine. Dh has had semen analysis which was also fine.

The consultant has now prescribed 6months 50mg clomid but im reluctant to take it. I just feel like why put chemicals into my body & interfere with nature when there doesn't appear to be anything wrong? But then at the same time, I just want to get pregnant and wonder if by delaying taking these meds, im delaying getting the pregnancy that we both want so much??! I really don't know what to do. On one hand I just think I should give it a few more months and see if things happen naturally but then on the other hand I think, well it hasn't happened in 12 months so just crack on& take the meds.... Advice anyone? im 30 years old so I don't have any age worries at the moment.

After looking on the Internet I'm also unsure as to whether clomid is that effective for people with unexplained infertility?

Why was clomid prescribed to you?. It should not be given unless there is definite proof that ovulation is not happening.

Also clomid is often the first line of treatment offered, to be given this after a lap and dye does seem a bit strange.

Do you feel that you as a couple have been adequately investigated to date?. I ask this as for instance one semen analysis is in no way conclusive.

I would consider seeking a second opinion particularly if you have no diagnosis of the underlying problem/s.

well ive had the 21 day progesterone test and that was fine & ive had my hormone levels taken at the beginning of my cycle & they were also fine. I also track my bbt so im confident that I am ovulating. The consultant just said the clomid would give my ovaries a "boost".

My dh has only had one analysis so maybe we should do another of those. Ill query it with the consultant.

This is what happened to me too, 6 months clomid even though. Was ovulating. Watching with interest.

Tillyann, have you taken your clomid?

I'm contemplating calling the consultant and asking her opinion on whether I should actually take it but firstly, I'm sure she wouldn't have prescribed it if she didn't think I should take it and secondly, I feel that it's probably just a necessary step in the process.

Btw, I've changed my username-I posted the original question!!!

I had to wait two years and take metformin for a year before I got my precious clomid.

I could not wait to take it and the thought of chemicals did not cross my mind.

I conceived dd1 on the first round and did not take again as dd2 was 'naturally' conceived. It was a dream come true.

The consultant would not have prescribed lightly.

If you are ovulating yourself though you might have a higher risk of a multiple pregnancy!

I was told we had a one in four chance of a multiple, and i had not ovulated or had a period in nearly three years, but we had a single pregnancy.

Good luck!

Yes I have but it didn't happen for us. Have also had 2 rounds of iui with gonal f and ovitrelle. However, a few people I know fell first time with cloned so you just never know. I don't think it does any harm though. Good luck.

Our consultant said i would not be given clomid since I was ovulating. Unlike other comments such as "it can't hurt", he said it's possible that it can, esp in conjunction with a slightly low AMH which I have (means lower egg reserve) because instead of releasing one egg per cycle you release multiple.. He said he didn't want to "waste" eggs when there was no evidence of improved conception rate on clomid if you were already ovulating. ie he said it helps if your problem is related to lack of an egg, or lack of an egg at a predictable time, but if your problem is related to something else (like implantation etc) it's probably not going to help and will potentially just use up more eggs, esp on the higher doses.

Moggle, I saw Richard Winston the fertility expert on This Morning today and he told someone who called in that if she is already ovulating she should definitely NOT take clomid as there's no evidence to show it works on people who have no ovulation problems and it can in fact have a detrimental effect and stop you ovulating!!!!

I think I am definitely going to see my consultant again and discuss other options as ths as really put me off taking it!!!

Moggle, that makes total sense. I'm sure my docs haven't got a flipping clue what they're doing! Thanks for that. I'm still not sure why we were told iui was next step either as I thought that was only recommended if there were male issues.

Where I live you have to take 6 months of clomid before you are eligible for IVF (and have been ttc for 2 years). We were told 'unexplained' and given the clomid but even as he gave it to me the consultant said it probably wouldn't work as I was already ovulating but it might boost our chances. I got a bfp on the 1st round (didn't stick, but still happy to have got that far). I will be taking the clomid again as soon as AF returns.

I would speak to consultant again. I had been ov naturally also, prescribed clomid and then it all stopped. It was really difficult to deal with. Good luck and I hope you get your bfp soon.

Prof Winston also said it was designed as a contraceptive pill when the side effect of making rats ovulate who didn't before was discovered.
Personally I'd be doing some research.

After 3 yrs ttc and undergoing every fertility test known to man/womankind I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility. I was definitely ovulating regularly so that wasn't the issue.

After all the tests, the fertility nurse put me on Clomid because that was 'just one of the steps we go through before IVF treatment'. I wasn't expecting anything to come of it and we were resigned to another year waiting for IVF.

You can guess the rest. DS was conceived in the first Clomid month and is now a grubby, shouty and much loved toddler.

When we were getting the scans during the Clomid, we saw that I produced lots of follicles in the first test. Two days later there were only two. We think that although my body ovulates, the follicles don't last long. The Clomid boosted me to produce more, and therefore there was more chance of one hanging around to hook up.

We had been trying for such a long time that we were past worrying about chemicals etc. I know what you mean, but when I look at DS now trying to steal my cornflakes I think, it really, really doesn't matter.

Sorry so long, but thought you'd like to hear a success story from someone in the same boat.

Mehrida thank you so much for your positive story! I've got an appointment with my consultant just before Christmas to speak to her about clomid but I think im just going to go ahead and take it after next af. Your story has given me hope, thank you!!

So good to hear that last success story. I’ve just been told starting on clomid. TTC for 12mths and no success but definitely ovulating. Think age may be a factor as almost 40 so declining egg reserve. I have been told by my consultant that it’s used for stimulating ov in those who don’t, and stimulating hyper ovulation in those who do; more eggs can be released which gives you a better chance of pregnancy each month . That’s why I’m happy to give it a shot. Would rather try that before ivf which involves drugs too and is far more invasive

I realize this is a very old thread, but I tried Clomid (50 mg, cd 5-9) this cycle and I stopped ovulating and I am panicking. I had previously been ovulating on my own the past 5 cycles. The past cycles I had the OPK LH surge and then confirmed ovulation by temping and with the Ovacue. Before that I got pregnant on my own (after only 3 cycles), but had a miscarriage at 8 weeks. I can't find anything online about clomid stopping ovulation except for in this thread. @MildDrPepperAddiction would you be willing to share more details about your experience? Did your ovulation ever come back after you tried Clomid? Any information would be greatly appreciated. I tried to find the Robert Winston video @Naggynoo mentioned but didn't have any luck.

@waffeletten89 I've just read this post. I know it's pretty old but saw you replied back in 2020! I just wondered how you got on? I've been prescribed clomid also. I ovulate every month but one month it can be day 13 and the next it's day 23. But I always ovulate. I also have a short luteal phase so the consultant thinks clomid might help lengthen it and has also prescribed progesterone suppositories. I got pregnant a few months ago (only using the progesterone suppositories) but and had a missed miscarriage at 11 weeks. I'm in two minds whether to take the clomid. I know I ovulate naturally (it's just not a consistent day every month) and I know I can get pregnant with the help of progesterone. I'm scared to take clomid and find it upsets my system. Did your ovulation ever come back? The other thing that concerns me is the effect on the lining clomid can have. I'm not being monitored with any ultrasounds or anything so will have no idea if that is an issue or not. I'm just so unsure what to do 😞 I'd love to hear how you got on in the end x

Hi @CH2205
Yes after my 1 clomid attempt failed, I switched to letrozole and my ovulation came back! I started on 5 mg letrozole. My doctor did monitoring ultrasounds and found that my follicles were on the small size on that dose. So that indicates that even though I had been ovulating on my own, I probably wasn’t ovulating with big enough follicles (and therefore I was probably releasing immature eggs). We increased the dose to 10 mg which got me good sized follicles. My lining was checked every cycle in the ultrasounds and it was always very good and thick. I’ve heard that letrozole is better at keeping the lining thick compared to clomid. If you’re not getting the ultrasound monitoring and you’re worried about the lining, it might be worth it to ask for letrozole instead of clomid. The ultrasounds were really helpful in determining my dose though so I would push for them if you can. Anyways, I wasn’t able to get pregnant after several cycles of letrozole and 5 IUIs and now I’m in the middle of my first IVF cycle :( It has been a rough road. I hope clomid or letrozole does the trick for you, wishing you the very best of luck!!

@waffeletten89 Thankyou so much for replying! I didn't know if anyone would as this is such an old post! I'm so sorry you've had such a difficult time, it sounds like you've really been through it. I really hope the ivf is a success for you 🤞🏻

I wasn't given the option of ultrasounds or any other drug which is a bit annoying. I'm currently being seen as a nhs patient so I'm not with a private fertility clinic or anything. I've not heard of letrozole so I'll definitely bear it in mind.
I normally ovulate quite late in my cycle around day 18-20 is about average. This might be a silly question but would that mean my egg follicles are on the larger side as they have extra time compared to ovulation on day 13/14 or does it not work like that? Can you still release an immature egg late in the cycle?

I am in the US so that might explain the difference in treatment. It is impossible to know your follicle size without the monitoring ultrasounds. You still might have small follicles on cycle day 18-20 if your follicles grow more slowly than the average person (like mine do). The clomid should help grow your follicles bigger and faster though. If you can’t get any monitoring ultrasounds, your best bet would be to try clomid for a few cycles and if it doesn’t work, ask for a higher dose.

Thank you - I didn't know about follicle size so that's really helpful. I'm in the UK so that's why it's probably a bit different. I could look into private ultrasounds but I don't think it's usually done on the NHS over here as wasn't mentioned at all to me. I've just got to do a day 21 blood test. I'll have a think about it all and decide what's best. Thanks so much!