Clomid March 2021

[chloedancer897]

Hi all,

I couldn't find an up to date clomid thread so was hoping to start one so we can go through our journeys together.

I'm 35, TTC #3, have unexplained infertility. We've been trying since September 2017, finally prescribed clomid by my consultant. I took it days 5-9 and was scanned on Friday where he confirmed there was one follicle at 22mm and 2 at 11mm. He thought I'd ovulate that day or the day after. I only got a positive OPK today and definite ovulation pain. So not really sure what's happening! Here's hoping for some positive news this month!

Unexplained is really no diagnosis at all; all this means is that they have failed to find out what is wrong. It can sometimes be given to couples when they as a couple have not been adequately investigated.

What tests have been performed to date for both of you?. Any test result done over six months ago should be discounted, you both need up to date test results and these tests should be done in tandem.

Monitoring like you've had should be continued as it will enable you both to determine whether clomid is working or not. Its quite powerful stuff so no monitoring is not acceptable. I would refrain from using OPKs whilst taking clomid as it could give you a false positive result; blood tests are far more reliable.

Deffo agree with @AttilaTheMeerkat Clomid needs monitoring as its strong stuff. I've had a scan today on CD12 of a Clomid cycle and I've over stimulated on it and have so many mature follicles. They said they'd never seen anyone respond to Clomid like I had and my scan looked like an IVF scan and legally they have to tell me to abstain from sex. I had similar last time and ended up in loads of pain and severely bloated in the days after ovulation, 5 ruptured haemorraghic cysts, enlarged ovaries and loads of free fluid in my pelvis.

@AttilaTheMeerkat I've had every test, so has DH. His semen analysis is being repeated this week as his last test was 8 months ago.

I had my scan to check if clomid was working on Friday and due for bloods this Friday. I'm just doing OPKs for myself, it's habit!

@AttilaTheMeerkat I didn't say I wasn't being monitored so what gave you that impression? I made this thread as a positive space to share journeys, not a place to judge or pass remarks like that. It's very unhelpful. I'm not taking clomid Willy nilly without advice and monitoring.

@Crazydoglady123 before I had my scan I was told to abstain until they could confirm it was safe and if I hyperstimulated I'd have to abandon this cycle. I assume you're on the lowest dose? It sounds like you had ovarian hyper stimulation the first time, I'm sure it was awful for you. Are they continuing with the clomid given how you've reacted? Is this your first few cycles trying it? Can I ask why they decided to give you clomid?

@chloedancer897 my Fertilty consultant just wanted me to do CD21 bloods on cycle number 2 originally and when I ended up in so much pain refused to scan me so I had to go for a private scan. This time they have monitored me which it seems is more normal. It's good yours has scanned you

@Crazydoglady123 why did they refuse to scan you? That's awful given your history the first cycle too. My doctor is being very vigilant. I'm grateful he is listening to me. I'll have bloods done on Friday to hopefully confirm ovulation. How long have you been TTC for?x

@chloedancer897 it was the first cycle when I was in loads of pain they said they wouldn't scan me 🙄 That was my first Clomid cycle which I started on immediately after 3 cycles of Letrozole (which 21 days bloods showed wasn't working). Clomid I've been on 100mg. Everything I've read it sounded like mild OHSS but no one ever wanted to label it as that. I had last cycle as a natural cycle and they did scan me on cd16 and it showed my ovaries were back to normal and cysts were gone but I was having an anovulatory cycle (I was on Clomid because I wasn't ovulating and been TTC 26 months now). I made the decision after that to start IVF and had all the consultations and assessments at the beginning of this cycle and was told if we abstain and write off this Clomid cycle I can start down regs on cd21 (next Thursday 😬) so at least those drugs will calm my ovaries down completely. Just super worried about this next week if I end up like last time in the days after ovulation 😥 I feel like I have a ticking bomb inside me ready to go off at any time. It's odd too as the first cycle I had the worst hot flushes but this one I've been okay 🤷🏽‍♀️ Have you had any side effects? This is a few pictures they took on my scan from today. I didn't ask how many I had in total but she said loads. They're emailing my scan over to my private clinic so going to ask them tomorrow

Sorry should have said when I saw my consultant for scan on my natural cycle last month and told him I'd decided to go private ivf he said to give Clomid one more try while I was waiting for all the assessments and consultations to be done. I said I was worried I'd react the same and he said he thought I'd be fine. I asked if I could go on a lower dose considering and he said no, 100mg again. Feel so annoyed now I listened to him

@Crazydoglady123 I'm on 50mg. My consultant said to start small and we could increase the dose if I don't react well. It's awful you've had to go privately and that you don't feel listened to. I'm so sorry. That's why I started this thread. It's helpful to arm yourself with information and hear of others experiences.

Your scan looks like there are tons of follicles there! Were you not ovulating previously? Good luck with the IVF. That's the path we are on too. Treatment may not start until May or June so we decided to try clomid while we were waiting

I did state that monitoring like you had should be continued. women should be monitored whilst on Clomid via blood tests and ultrasound ideally.

Using opk’s though is not adviseable because clomid can affect hormone levels markedly.

You sound like you have a good consultant which is half the battle. Yeah loads of follicles so dreading ovulation in the next couple of days 🥴 I don't ovulate regularly and we also have a smidge of MF too (2% morphology)

@AttilaTheMeerkat I am being monitored. Like I said. I had the scan and I'm having bloods done this week. I'm aware of how serious clomid is. Which is why I've chosen a consultant who is looking after me well.

@Crazydoglady123 DH is 3-4% morphology but we were told it was fine. Just that if we had to do assisted conception we would likely need ICSI. He's getting analysis again this week to see if it's changed.

Hopefully ovulation isn't too bad for you. It can be painful enough! Especially with all those follicles! Hoping for some good news for you in the next cycle x

@chloedancer897 yeah we're down for ICSI but he's been on supplements the last two months so if it's improved and we can do normal IVF we will. We was saying the other day too based on his sperm count on that SA he would still have had over 60,000 normal sperm and it only takes one 🙄

Just spoke to the my private clinic about the NHS scan yesterday and can carry on my ivf as planned this cycle. Also asked how many mature follicles and I have 6 on my left and 1 on my right

@Crazydoglady123 wow that's great news! What's the next step for you? I assume egg retrieval is soon then? My DH has been on supplements too, I'm hoping it's made a difference

@chloedancer897 oh sorry I mean these follicles are caused from the Clomid. I don't start ivf till 31st March with egg collection planned for end of April

@Crazydoglady123 sorry I totally misunderstood. That's exciting for you. Not long to wait now! I have everything crossed for you x

hi march 9 got period march 11 they scan me and they did blood work afc right ovary 8 and 3 left with endo lining 11.3 the give clomid 100 mg for march 11 to until march15 and 19 march day 11 the scan so many follicle but left ovary 1 16mm and 1, 16.5 mm and right ovary 1, 13mm but they said wait 2 days so 16 mm follicle gonna be mature to 18mm or above so on 21 march they said do trigger shot at 7pm today is 23 march they did iui at morning and have so much pain today its start before iui since today morning i dont know its ovulation pain or what hope good news for u and pray for me too

@chloedancer897 hi there! So sorry the first few messages were just nasty aggressive I hate it when people do tht on here!! It's like they take their own frustrations out on you!!! I'm also ttc #4 though, I have two teenagers and a 2 year old been ttc since he was 6 mo th it's not happening just started clomid yesterday I'm on day 2 of it,
Can I ask why dr said to start cycle day 5? I've also been told to start later in cycle but I'm worried as everything I read says it's better earlier?! What do you think? Have you had any bad side effects?

hi i dont know why they told u from day 5 but definetly they track your before cycle thats why there must be a reason my doctor told me to start from day 3 i have no side effect until ovalution near to trigger shot just some hot flashes nothing else but i have trigger shot side effect its because hcg i guess i have a so much pain after 36 hour for all day but today i have no pain .

Hi all, I started today on day 5 and looked for evidence on the best day to start which seems to say that it makes no difference to the outcome whether you start on day 3 or 5 so 🤞. This is #4 for me as well, two teenagers, a three year old and been trying for 2 years for another.

@dragonfly1978 you sound very similar to me then?!! What cd are you know? I'm day 8 clomid day 3 !
So glad you started day 5 also!!
Can I ask is it just unexplained like mine? As I obv ovulate I have three children lol youngest 2
I'm actually only trying this one cycle then will give in I'm scared to do any more?!
Any side effects? I just have bloating and pain in my kidney area and Timmy , had awful nightmares last night 🤣

@lastbany yes unexplained as well, had two close together 17 and 16 years ago (first marriage) then three years ago at 38 with no problem at all then tried since then really with no luck! I just had two rounds of IVF to see if it sped up conceiving, everything is fine with me, great bloods, produced loads of eggs, they made it to day 5 and were put back and still not pregnant 😥. Giving Clomid a go as there is no reason I can't get pregnant and two rounds of basic IVF just cost £14000, can't do that again!! No side effects yet 🤞. Sounds like we are in a similar situation!

@dragonfly1978 wow! They said I wouldn't qualify for ivf due to having three children so would have to pay it's not a option! Ye I conceived my teenagers obv was younger! My 2 year old had at 36! Now 38 I got preg we her first try so it's so annoying!!!! Are you having scans etc before and during the clomid?