Metformin & clomid together

[KJ88]

Has anyone used the metformin & clomid together? While ttc with cops??
I've been instructed by my GP to take 2x metformin daily (to help regulate period) then I will start my rounds of clomid.

I've heard using both together increases your chances of conceiving multiple birth? Does anyone have any experience of using the 2 together?

(My GP seamed really casual about it & only gave it to me as I pretty much insisted! The last time I was told metformin isn't actually prooved to help pcos..

I've done so much research into what days of your cycle are best to start clomid as well & there's quite a mixed response.. ( some day days 1-5, others days 2-6 & some days 5-9!)
What are the differences in what days you actually do take??

does anyone have any advice on what they were recommended please? I don't feel 100% convinced with my GP..

Thank you!

Has your GP prescribed you the clomid or a fertility clinic?

A fertility clinic should be prescribing this rather than your GP, and before starting it you should have had a HSG or HyCoSy to check your tubes aren't blocked.

Normally people need monitoring scans when on clomid too, to track the follicles and also to check that you're not at risk of OHSS (the chances of which are higher if you have PCOS).

Sorry if I'm telling you information you already know, but it's not clear from your post whether any of the above has happened or whether your GP has given you clomid because you "insisted" or whether the insisting part refers to the metformin.

Clomid alone certainly does increase your risk of multiple pregnancy/birth and unless you're having the proper monitoring when you're taking it, I'd advise you not to take it.

No, the metformin was prescribed by my GP, this is what I insisted on as I've read that it helps.. although my GP didnt give great advice on how to use or why it is actually beneficial, on my last appointment I was advised it wasn't proven to be beneficial at all.
what I know is through my own research only.
The clomid I bought otc whilst abroad.

You should not take clomid unmonitored and without the appropriate work up first.

Clomid can have serious side effects like OHSS. If you haven't had any tests for tubal patency and your tubes aren't patent it can result in ectopic pregnancy.

I would strongly advise you against taking it as it's really not worth the risk.

Omg do NOT take clomid without being monitored. Apart from anything else, it can thin your lining to the point an embryo couldn't implant even if you could get an egg to fertilise. You need monitoring! Have you acfuallly had tests to check if you're ovulating? Because if you are, clomid is useless. You really need to speak to a fertility specialist.

In terms of metformin, it can help pcos. Are you overweight? It seems to work better if you are overweight to start. Worst case scenario it won't do any harm - it certainly doesn't raise the risk of multiples, it's clomid that does that. So I repeat - do not take clomid without monitoring. If you don't want to see a fertility doctor at the very least go and have some scans done around ovulation time.

Echoing what everyone else says, please don't take unprescribed clomid. I understand the desperation to try anything that might work but it can make things a lot worse.

Thank u all for your advice & input, I just don't understand how clomid is supposed to be so risky.. what about all the women that do just buy it otc in other countries outside of the UK? It's only here we need to be prescribed.

I am pretty desperate now as we've been trying for years! I have metformin now So maybe that alone will even help x

KJ88 - we've already told you that it can lead to lining thinning and multiples (which might not be twins - could be triplets, quads or worse). That's if it's even effective or relevant to your type of infertility. If that's not enough for you and you "don't understand" why clomid needs monitoring I suggest you take a little bit of time to read up on clomid - what it is, how it works - before buying pills off the internet. Honestly, I don't mean to be harsh and I know infertility drives people to do desperate things, but - it's a drug that messes around with your hormones. At a minimum you should understand how it works before you consider using it. The fact that other women idiots order it otc doesn't mean anything.

Metformin is used for type 2 diabetes and it can be relevant to some ladies with PCOS as they have insulin resistance. I'm shocked the GP would just randomly give you a prescription without doing all the test first. Clomid can cause the issues described above like OHSS - in severe cases it can cause your lung to fill up so you can breath unaided, liver failure, kidney failure etc. It doesn't sound like you've read up or have any understanding of it whatsoever. Your posts come across painfully stupid (sorry) and I hope you don't land in A&E or Intensive Care because of your irresponsibility.

If you've been trying to conceive for over a year, or you or your partner have know infertility issues, just go to your GP to discuss them. They will be able to run some basic tests and if needed, they'll refer you on to a specialist.

PS and just because you've read about other women who've done it, doesn't make it a good idea - like drinking and driving or taking drugs...

KJ88

re your comment:-
"Thank u all for your advice & input, I just don't understand how clomid is supposed to be so risky".

You really do need to educate yourself more on this matter because it may well be that this drug treatment is not suitable for you to take in the first place. It was not for me for instance, I was told it would not help me after I was diagnosed.

Its actually quite powerful stuff and women who take this drug treatment should be monitored whilst on it with both blood tests and ultrasounds ideally because it can also affect hormone levels markedly. Clomid resistance is also not at all unknown and if you were not monitored you would have no way of knowing whether its doing what it is supposed to. Clomid's main job is to make the ovaries work harder.

I can relate also to your desperation but desperate people can do stupid things and act without properly thinking it through.

What you need first and foremost is a diagnosis of the underlying problems (both of you may well be equally contributing to the subfertility); not buying medicines over the counter whilst abroad (you also have no idea of the dosage or of the cycle days to take it on) or getting the GP to prescribe you Metformin.