Clomid/Metformin journey 2021/22

[PCOSWarrior]

A new thread for all of us out here using Clomid/Metformin in 2021! I thought we could document some of the things that are working for us, some of the things that are not, and share our successes and commisserations.
Me (32F) and my boyfriend (52M) have been trying to conceive our first child for nearly three years. He has near perfect reproductive health which is fantastic! I have quite extreme PCOS and AMH levels (97.2). We conceived once on our own in September 2020 but miscarried in November 2020.

After a long NHS wait, I have finally just finished my first round of Clomid 50mg and Metformin 1g - the good news is that I did ovulate, but sadly AF arrived this morning!

So, tomorrow I will start round two!
Like last time, I will take my Metformin with breakfast and dinner so that I am having it with food, and I will take Clomid at around 10pm before bed each night. This worked well for me and I only had some occassional night sweats last time.

I'll update this thread as I go and would love to hear about your experiences too!

My update is that yesterday I started my first period since my second MMC. I will start taking my next round of Clomid at bedtime tonight, along with my high dose folic acid, the multivitamin, and continuing with Metformin 2g per day. If I ovulate, I will immediately start using the cyclogest progesterone pessaries as prescribed - rather than waiting to see if I get a positive pregnancy test result. I will also be trying a gluten free diet as of all the tests that have been done, the only slight marker I had was for coeliac disease. It was inconclusive as it was only slightly higher than usual, but reading up on undiagnosed coeliac disease and recurrent miscarriage has convinced me it is worth following a GF diet in the terrifying early weeks - just in case.
Emotionally, I'm not sure I'm ready for all this again, but my body has clearly healed well enough to have a period again, so I feel that I should honour that and at least try.

Hi all! I changed my screen name (formerly PCOSWarrior) I hope you are all doing well and @ladyge I have been thinking of you and wishing you a swift recovery <3

My update is that I got a faint BFP today at 12dpo. This was our first Clomid round since my loss at New Year. I am anxious and tbh I didn't think I was pregnant. I've had none of my usual symptoms, perhaps because of the progesterone that I have been taking since 3DPO (400mg Cyclogest per day).

I read an interesting fact about Progesterone (that I am sure many of you know but is new to me) is that as well as helping to thinken the uterine lining to make a safe nest for bean, it also contributes to managing the mother's immune system and helping to prevent the immune system attacking the embryo. I had no idea it played two such vital roles.
I am really hoping that the Cyclogest (200mg x 2 per day) that I have been taking will be enough to help sustain this pregnancy. That along with cutting out gluten (I had a boarderline marker for celiac disease) might make the difference.

I had no idea about these things at the beginning of this journey and I hope this record helps anyone new who is perhaps just learning about all these things. If you have any questions - please ask (even if you come to this thread a year from now!)

Through the highs and lows, we're a community of amazing women and we are all in this together! xx

Hi @Hana89,

Sorry I’ve been AWOL, I just wanted some
time away from all these forums, articles, pregnancy chat etc. I hope you are doing ok.

I came on my period last week and I took my final round of Clomid (6) .. I have a appointment with the gyno end of this month to talk through next steps if this doesn’t work (not feeling too confident tbh but keeping my fingers crossed)

I know you girls are still on this fertility journey, I have been keeping updated with your posts and was in two minds about contributing again given your circumstances.

Thinking of you and your resilience on this rollercoaster of emotions.

My baby boy is scheduled to arrive via c-section in 17 days. My pregnancy has been uncomplicated and we are both healthy although I have placenta previa which is said to be more common in women who have conceived using fertility treatment. It hasn’t caused any problems but will mean I can’t deliver naturally.

I have continued to take metformin throughout my pregnancy. I also continued with the Myo-inositol tablets as they contain folic acid although they are always out of stock now on Amazon so I have neglected those in the last few weeks.

wishing you all the best in your TTC journeys and hope to hear good news from you soon x

@ladyge I am so sorry I didn't see your message sooner and keeping everything crossed that round 6 is the one for you! 💗💗💗💗

@Eskimo123 oh this is such lovely news! I have often thought of you and wondered how your pregnancy was going! Congratulations on your little boy and I hope the c-section is easy, and you have a smooth recovery 💗💗💗💗

I am currently 11weeks and 4 days. We saw little one at 7 weeks and all was well but given my history I'm trying not to get too excited until our 12 week scan which is actually going to be a 13 week scan on 4th July! I'm very anxious (of course) but all of my symptoms seem normal and have been fairly consistent so I am hopeful that this time might be okay. 🤞✨🤞

I’m so so so so so excited for you!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I know this bean is a sticky one!!! I hope you are doing ok @Hana89 - keep me updated 💕

@Eskimo123 i just counted the days from your post to +17 days! Your due 11 July!!!!! I hope everything goes well - please let us know how you get on! And I hope everything goes smoothly and your baby arrives healthyyy 💕 I’ll be having my fingers crossed for you!

A slight odd update - my boobs have been slightly sore recently, I think it’s been approx a week so I decided to do a pregnancy test today as soon as I got home from work. I used a clear blue test and got a smudge where the positive line should be (smudge on the right side of the positive line, as though the dye ran) .. I’m not to sure what to make of this and I’ve been Googling for some answers and it looks like I’m quiet frankly a minority 😂 I think I peed too much on the test 😂😂

I can’t seem to find anything about this on the internet - I know I’m being impatient and I can test again tomorrow morning 🙄 but it’s so annoying to wait! Wondering if you’ve had something similar and what the outcome has been?

Hi @ladyge OOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Have you tested again this morning? I have to admit with all my pregnancies, I never got anything resembling a positive until 13 or 14 DPO, but I do seem to implant late and also my morning sickness this time was consistent but very low level so I do wonder if my HCG is just a bit on the low side generally. I think if you have tested, but haven't got your positive yet, keep the faith and try really hard to wait a few more days before you test again, just to give yourself the best chance of a true result.
Also, even if it is currently negative, do consider starting a pregnancy vitamin like Pregnacare or similar, it can't do any harm and if you are pregnant it might give little one some extra support in these very delicate early days.

Keep us posted and I have everything crossed for you, my dear xxxxxxxxx

@Hana89 - I have and it did come back positive 🎉 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 .. I’m taking multivitamins too and hopefully this bean sticks. Currently 5 weeks!

Hows it going with you?? xxxxx

Wooooohhhhooooooo!!!! 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉 I'm so so pleased for you @ladyge and keeping everything crossed for a happy and healthy pregnancy!
Have you contacted the midwives? Will they be able to offer you an early reassurance scan?
So exciting!!!!

Everything is great here! We had our 12 week scan yesterday and baby is perfect! Measuring 12weeks 6days so I'm 13 weeks today! Xxx

@Hana89 awwwww!!!!!!! LOOK AT THE BABYYYYYYYYYY! So adorable. This is so exciting I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly too!!! Keep me updated !!! I can feel the excitement through the phone! Hahahah!

I didn’t know a early reassurance scan is possible. I will ask. I did fill out the form online to let them know about my pregnancy but haven’t had anyone contact me back yet which is annoying. But hey ho!

Awww!! This scan has honestly made my day! @Hana89 !! So happy for you! Xxxxx

It will depend on how the clinic does things in your area, but certainly with the difficult you've had and the fact you've used Clomid for some support, I would hope they'd agree to an early scan for you!
Mine was at 7 weeks but from being on a couple of other threads I know that 8 weeks is a great time too as you can see a little bit more! (At 7 weeks I could just about make out the shape of baby's head on screen but the photo was like a little smudge! Haha!)

Thank you so much for all your well wishes - and I am so excited for you too! 5 weeks! Oh my gosh! So if I'm due January, you must be due March? I'm a March birthday too - it is a very good month! 🌷🌸🐝

Let's stay in touch on here and keep each other posted and @Eskimo123 I really hope everything is going well for you and your little one xxxxx

@Hana89 @ladyge
so so pleased for you both!!

I’m not sure how it will work in your area but for me I was able to get an appointment at the early pregnancy unit in the general hospital at around 5 weeks for a scan but I have to be honest it was not the right decision and only created further anxiety.

A scan at 8 weeks gave me a lot more confidence :).

I am very lucky that my mum is a midwife and sonographer so I have been spoiled with scans during this pregnancy but she doesn’t specialise in early pregnancy so up to around 9 weeks she wouldn’t scan me.

since my last post I was admitted to hospital for some bleeding which is very common with placenta previa. I live right next to the hospital so they allowed me to go home after a couple of days to monitor the bleeding which has continued but to a minimal extent. Baby happy and healthy so I’m just trying to hold out til Monday for my section :). Mum keeps an eye on me.
I have an appointment today with consultant but I’m not really sure for what. The midwives booked it when they discharged me so I’m hoping the consultant has some idea why I’m there otherwise we will both be looking blankly at eachother lol.

@Eskimo123 I'm sure they just want to check in and talk through the plan for Monday and I'm so glad they're taking such brilliant care of you during an exciting but stressful time! I'll be thinking of you!
Roll on Monday! 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉

Thank you bothhhhh!

I hope everything goes well for you @Eskimo123

Awwww! How exciting! @Hana89 .. I have calculated myself and I’ll be due roughly March .. still pinching myself about this lol

why does the first trimester go so slow 😭 I constantly scared of doing anything or too much.. but I’ve heard that’s normal

I haven’t heard from my midwife yet or had my first appointment. Apparently they don’t do the first appointment until 7-8 weeks in my area.

I’m gonna be 6 weeks on Tuesday 💕 so I hope I get an appointment by then

Ah! Well that's okay - 7 or 8 weeks is a good time to have your first appointment because a bit more is happening with baby and I'm sure it'll fly by ☺️

How are you feeling? I hope the first trimester is being kind to you so far @ladyge

Yes, I really slowed myself down in those early weeks. I was super careful about caffeine and sugar and made sure I slept loads and I stopped going to the gym until I was 9 weeks! I'm sure I didn't need to do any of that stuff really but I just felt the need to be so, so careful with my body.

I hope so - I’m literally counting everyday 😂😂 5 week & one day… 5 weeks & two days… 5 weeks & three days… hahaha it makes it feel so much longer!

tbh I haven’t been so bad .. I’ve had nausea and my boobs are very sensitive.. slight bloating too .. but all these are very mild not so aggressive… I feel soooooo tired too. It’s so embarrassing I’m at work and yawning away at 10am. 😂😂 but all these symptoms I’m thankful for because I’ve been waiting for this for so long. So I honestly can’t complain. how was your first trimester? Have your symptoms gotten better now??

I feel like I’m getting anxiety too.. everytime I go to the toilet I have to wipe and look just to see if there’s any blood ☹️ I know I shouldn’t be thinking like this and stay positive but I can’t help myself. (sorry to add a sad note to the chat)

@ladyge You symptoms sound very similar to mine! My nausea was vaguely present at 5 weeks, but didn't really kick in until about 6.5 weeks. I think it was at its worst weeks 8 and 9 and I was actually sick a couple of times, but for the most part it was just like 24/7 travel sickness and feeling a bit 'off' for a few weeks. It has completely gone now (14 weeks) and I only get a bit nauseous if I've let myself get way too hungry.
My boobs were sore pretty much from BFP, but it did fluctuate quite a lot and some days I felt absolutely fine, and other days, even now, I can barely face putting a bra on.
FATIGUE!!!!! OMG!!! I was soooo sleepy and when babe is having a growth spurt, I still am! The last few days I've been asleep by 9pm and needing to sleep through until about 8am to feel normal. I have so much respect to pregnant mums who have little ones who maybe don't sleep through the night. I don't know how they do it!

I definitely felt the same as you, and even when I was feeling really grim, I was so grateful because it was a reminder that I was pregnant and that everything seemed to be going okay.

Please don't beat yourself up about anxiety. Pregnancy after loss is a real mind bender and the joy and happiness is tempered with a little voice that always seems to be saying 'What if...' My best advice is to stop if you catch yourself doom Googling. I spent weeks Googling questions that were only ever going to make my anxiety worse and there is always someone out there who has a tragic story that will make you feel completely freaked out. Equally there are so many good news stories about success and happy outcomes, so if you need to Google, try to aim for one of those! haha! xx

@Hana89 your words mean a lot 💕💕 thank you so much for the support and your kind words. They have honestly helped so much. I try not to Google and take each day as it comes.

I literally had the same symptoms as you haha.

how was your first midwife appointment? I just wanna know what to expect when I go haha (still haven’t had my first appointment 😣)

Oh you're so welcome! It is a really exciting but slightly scary time and the best thing about this community is being able to support each other through it! 💖💖

The first midwife appointment I had was the booking appointment at 10 weeks and was really easy. It is just a million and one questions about family medical history particularly on your side, but on baby's dad's side too. I could answer most of them but I never knew my dad so I had to just answer to the best of my knowledge.
The midwife will check your weight and take a blood sample and a urine sample and talk you through your choices for pre-natal testing for chromosomal issues.
The tests are completely safe for baby and non invasive but it is entirely up to you whether you opt for them or not.
She'll also ask you about your mental health and how you're feeling and see if there is any additional support that can be offered.
The appointment lasts about an hour but it flies by and in my experience it is really chilled out. You'll be absolutely fine @ladyge and if your partner is able to come, they will be allowed to go in too 🙂

@Hana89 i have my first midwife appointment on 4th Aug 😁 fingers crossed everything goes well.

it’s understandable that they ask so many questions because they need to know the type of treatment plan to give you.

I totally agree - it’s very reassuring to have a support community and I’m very thankful for this 💕

My anxiety is shooting up again - I have just noticed some blood on the tissue, it’s light and not enough to be on my underwear but I’m panicking. I’m 6 weeks and 2 days. I’ve contacted the midwife and she said I can’t be seen at the EPCU until I’m atleast 7 weeks.

Hey @Hana89 - I read in one of your previous posts that you took Cyclogest to for extra support for the foetus after you ovulated. Was this prescribed by your GP or the specialist on the NHS?

I feel like I’m not being looked after at the NHS and I’m so very tempted to just speak to a private clinic. It’s so frustrating not being able to get through to a doctor or anyone, and their communication is absolutely rubbish.. I’m not sure if that’s just my area or what.

I am still having a light bleed, in my previous MC I progressed to a heavy within the next day so I’m assuming bed rest might do the trick as I’ve read on some forums but I’m not even sure who I should speak to anymore

Oh @ladyge 💖💖💖💖 sending love and strength to you!
I do know on a lot of forums ladies have had light bleeds and gone on to be okay so let's not panic yet. I so wish I was there to give you a massive hug!

I was prescribed progesterone and I'll explain the process so you can potentially follow whichever of these steps seems most sensible to you:

So after Gary and I had been trying for a year with only a chemical pregnancy, I contacted my GP and explained that I had PCOS and Gary was 50 and we would like to have some bloods taken to check hormone levels. It took a little while but they agreed to test us and Gary was perfect but it was noted that my progesterone was low. We then got a referral to the fertility clinic to see about Clomid etc.
That referral took a year due to Covid etc. and in that time I got pregnant naturally but had a MMC (I was 12 weeks but babe stopped developing at 5 or 6 weeks). Eventually we got our referral through and I told them about my MMC and known progesterone issue and after more tests, I was prescribed Clomid and Metformin but nothing was said about my progesterone.

We got pregnant on round 2 of Clomid 50mg and as soon as I knew I was pregnant I contacted my GP and asked for my hormone levels to be tested due to my previous loss. My tests which were three days apart showed that HCG was fine, but there had been a big dip in progesterone and the GP prescribed 200mg of Cyclogest twice a day. By the time I started it, I was 5weeks, 5days and I found out at my 8 week viability scan that the baby had stopped developing at 5 weeks and I had had another MMC.

Now this is really important to note: no one could say for sure whether low progesterone was causing the MMC or whether the MMC was causing the low progesterone. We just didn't know. Perhaps with both those pregnancies there was something quite wrong and Cyclogest would not have made any difference.

Because I had had three losses I was referred to the Recurrent Miscarriage clinic in Manchester and they did a battery of tests for absolutely everything and the only thing that came back as a possible issue was a mild gluten intolerance. But I was quite insistent about the progesterone and they said I could take it from 3dpo as it couldn't do any harm and might help if there was an issue. Once I knew I was pregnant (about 15 dpo) I called the Recurrent Miscarriage clinic and they agreed to up my Cyclogest to 400mg X 2 per day with the acknowledgement that it could be a placebo or it might make the difference and for me it seems to have made the difference this time.

But every pregnancy is different and every woman is different and although I do think it has helped me, you may find that you don't need it @ladyge , your progesterone levels might be absolutely fine.