Increasing Clomid Advice

[WhereforeArtThouLHSurge]

Morning All,
I’m just about to start my third round of Clomid (50mg CD 2-6). I’ve read a lot of threads where ladies are being monitored via blood scans, ultrasounds etc and I’m not receiving any of that - I was lucky enough to be given 6 months worth of Clomid but was just sent on my way.
I’m feeling deflated if I’m honest as I thought it would work instantly and was in with a chance this month as DTD every other day from CD 7-17 but AF arrived yesterday 🙃
Has anyone increased the dosage of Clomid themselves without contacting the doctor? I don’t want to jump from 50mg to 100mg so was thinking about doing 75mg this month.
Any advice much appreciated.

Bump

Are you ovulating on the 50mg do you know? It's really poor that you're not getting scans or bloods and have just been left to it!

@YouBoggleMyMind thank you so much for replying. I’ll be honest I haven’t been using OPK’s as I was trying to be more relaxed and trust in the medication but reading how frequently other ladies are in contact with their doctors to monitor I feel a bit fobbed off? I know how lucky I am to have even been prescribed the Clomid but once I’d done all the test/scans etc to get the prescription - I had a 5 minute conversation over the phone with my doctor who said ‘take once a day CD2-6, good luck and call us when you fall’
Have you used Clomid previously?

Yes, my Son is a clomid baby but it took 10 cycles on different doses to get it right.
Are you having a regular cycle while taking it? How long is your cycle? OPKs aren't always in being accurate.

@YouBoggleMyMind so glad to hear a positive Clomid story and congratulations to you ✨ did you take anything alongside Clomid? I see a lot of mentions around other meds being taken with it.
I was on the depo injection for 7 years and was essentially told that my reproductive system had shut down and the only way to ‘kick start’ it again was through Clomid. I’ve been off the depo injection for 20 months and cycles were ranging from 39-42 days (which I never had pre-injection) but they regulated around 5 months ago and my cycle is now 26-27 days..

I had to take metformin to make the clomid work but that was prescribed due to having several PCOS.
Have you got PCOS?
You'd expect to be ovulating around day 12 so you should be covering it with sex every other day from day 8. The only other thing is you're ovulating later and your luteal phase is too short. This is why the scans and progesterone blood test as 7 days past ovulation are important, it can tell a fair bit.
Are you temping at all? That might show some answers too.
I would be reluctant to up your dose until you know if it's working in the first place.

@YouBoggleMyMind I haven’t been diagnosed with PCOS but it was suggested this might be the cause for not falling as well (GP mentioned my AMH and FSH levels aren’t that great) but won’t find out more until I have my fertility referral in May 2022 as that’s the only way to find out apparently..

I’ll definitely start temping this cycle and based on the advice you’ve shared, I think I’ll give my GP a call tomorrow and ask for some blood tests to be carried out at least - just to be sure it was a progesterone blood test 7 days post ovulation?

Your GP absolutely should be able to do some more tests for you at this stage. Bloods day 3 (LH FSH) and progesterone at 7 days past ovulation (they'll call it day 21 bloods which isn't necessarily correct unless you ovulate cd14 and have a 28 day cycle). GP should also be able to refer you for a gynae scan to have a look at your uterus and ovaries again. AMH tends to be high with PCOS. It does sound as though your ovaries have been sleeping and they may need a bit of time.

Hi everyone! Jumping on this threat as @WhereforeArtThouLHSurge you sound like you have the same problem as me. I have been infertile ever since taking the depo injection. I ovulate, tubes are fine, hormones fine, literally cannot find anything wrong. Anyway been trying with my partner for 3 years and now perscribed clomid. First month i took 50mg and had trigger shot. This is my 2nd month but now on 100mg and had trigger shot.
Are you in the UK? I think the only worry if youre not being scanned is if you ovulate too many foliicles and end up with octuplets lool but i think more than twins is extremely rare. But you should have scans to check youre actually reacting well to the clomid ie getting follicles at a decent size. Im in the UK and having to go private which is costing an arm and a leg 🥲

Oh and im also on progesterone pessaries to make my body think it’s pregnant and so makes a good lining etc incase implanting is my problem

@YouBoggleMyMind well I called my GP to get the 21 Day blood test lined up for this cycle but the gatekeeper of GP’s receptionist insisted I have a telephone call first.. and my doctor isn’t available until 29th November so will have to wait until my 4th Clomid round to find out if it’s working or not - certainly not making it easy

@Janejanedoe86 Welcome! Yes based in the UK and doing it through the NHS. How quick was it going through private? I think I might have to bite the bullet and go through that route as I know I’ll spend hours working myself up chasing my doctor!
How long were you on the depo for? I was told originally when I got it, it would take 1 year to conceive then when I called to say I’d been struggling to fall they told me ‘no we’ve changed the guidelines now, we tell people it can take up to 18 months’!

Pretty sure you can get a company online to send a blood kit for you to send off on the correct day and they'll email you with the results.

@WhereforeArtThouLHSurge I get to see my Dr within days but its £300 each appointment 🥴😩 included in that is the follicle scan while on clomid and the trigger shot. She then gives me prescription for the next month clomid and progesterone which comes up to about an extra £100. I see her once a month while on clomid just before ovulation so it works out 400 a month which isnt great but if it works it will be worth it of course! Im in london so private might be cheaper depending where you are. X