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Fertility / Infertility (Expert Forum)
Does Clomid make endometriosis worse?
Answered by
Elaine Brown, MD - Pregnancy, Gynecology
Elaine Brown, MD - BLOG
Billings - MT
Questions in the Fertility/Infertility forum are answered by doctors affiliated with USF Health. Topics covered include fertility or infertility issues, egg quality, fertility drugs and side effects, fertility tests, genetic testing, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), ovulation, relationship issues, risk factors, sperm count/quality, and surgery.
Does Clomid make endometriosis worse?
by hollandlop, Oct 09, 2009 02:28PM
I am currently doing IUI every month with 100mg of Clomid only. I have done my second cycle of IUI.
I have endometriosis. I heard that Clomid can cause adhesions to grow back. Is that true?
I asked my gyn who is performing the IUI on me, and he said Clomid doesn't affect endometriosis at all. Is he wrong?
I have endometriosis. I heard that Clomid can cause adhesions to grow back. Is that true?
I asked my gyn who is performing the IUI on me, and he said Clomid doesn't affect endometriosis at all. Is he wrong?
Doctor's Answer
by Elaine Brown, MD, Oct 11, 2009 11:08PM
, Oct 11, 2009 11:08PMTo: hollandlop
Hi!
We don't completely understand the mechanism of growth of endometriosis, so its only possible to give you a theoretical answer. We think that endometriosis is an abnormality of the immune system. We also think that hormone levels stimulate endometriosis. That is why low hormone levels such as those seen with patients taking depot Lupron help to keep endometriosis from growing. Theoretically Clomid increases hormone levels, and therefore it could accelerate the growth of endometriosis. The ironic thing is though, pregnancy, which has VERY high hormone levels is wonderful therapy for endometriosis. So, even if the Clomid does speed up the endometriosis, if it works, the pregnancy will more than make up for it!
I hope this is helpful!
Dr B
We don't completely understand the mechanism of growth of endometriosis, so its only possible to give you a theoretical answer. We think that endometriosis is an abnormality of the immune system. We also think that hormone levels stimulate endometriosis. That is why low hormone levels such as those seen with patients taking depot Lupron help to keep endometriosis from growing. Theoretically Clomid increases hormone levels, and therefore it could accelerate the growth of endometriosis. The ironic thing is though, pregnancy, which has VERY high hormone levels is wonderful therapy for endometriosis. So, even if the Clomid does speed up the endometriosis, if it works, the pregnancy will more than make up for it!
I hope this is helpful!
Dr B
