question about cysts and clomid and BC

[nunu1977]

I am not sure how many on here are TTC (trying to conceive) and suffer from cysts. I think i have posted on here before but ill post again just in case someone has some experience in my situation.

I had a M/C back in September 2008. after having a D&C i seemed to have complications with TTC again. I constantly had lower abdominal pain and it turns out that it was from cysts forming and rupturing. one was so big that the Dr thought it was a benign tumor and wanted to take the ovary out. two weeks later it was gone. the dr was wrong, it was a huge cyst the ruptured.
after months of putting off BC i decided to take my Drs advice and go on it for three months, and then give me clomid to help with ovulation and hopefully get preggers before the cysts come back. . well, my three months are up. there were no cysts on my ovarys but there seems to be fluid behind my uterus that the Dr thinks might have been a cyst rupturing. he was ok to give me the clomid and ive now been taking it for two days.

has anyone else TTC and had problems with cysts, been on BC to get rid of them and then tried clomid (that can cause cysts)?

It took me a year to get preggers the first time (with twins). I don't think it will take that long again with the clomid, but hearing someone elses experience would be nice.

Thanks

[tinkerbell101]

Hi Nunu - I am so sorry to hear about your miscarriage.

I wondered how are you doing on the clomid?? I have had a similar problem as miscarried around the same time as you and have had problems TTC since. I had lower pains and also had it investigated as when I I had my M/C  (August 08) they told me that when they did my D&C they saw a 5cm cyst on my ovary but felt it was a pregnancy cyst and nothing to worry about.

I had the follow up scan a few months later and it had gone but maybe had taken a while to disolve and was lucky that I didn't have to resort to BC.

I had no probs after that and started Clomid 3 months ago then last month on my 3rd cycle of taking Clomid I developed another large cyst. The clinic told me that its nothing to worry about and it will disolve/rupture on its own but have been advised not to take Clomid this month.

I am booked for a U/S tomorrow to see how things are going and to check if I have any mature folicles (although think thats a bit late as I may have already ovulated on my own!)

I am not sure if I can continue taking it now I developed this cyst but if you are interested I can let you know the outcome.

Sorry I can't be of more help - I just thought I would share my story with you

Good luck with TTC again

[nunu1977]

thank you for your reply. I would love to know your outcome of the U/S.

I am CD 12 today. I started the clomid on CD5. I am hoping that i get a positive OPK tomorrow, but just my luck it will be a few more days. I have the Answer brand and am not sure if I like it. I worry that I wont get a good positive... I wish the digitals weren't so expensive.

Im feeling a bit of pain on my right side... the side that gets all the cysts, so im scared they have come back already. did you feel any pain before O or during O? Ive had some people say they felt no pain and some say they they were in a lot of pain during O.

What day did you O on with the clomid? was it the same as a cycle without the clomid? And did you have pain BDing? .. sorry about all the questions. its just nice to hear what others experienced on clomid and compare my experience.

Did they say you could try anything else besides clomid? another girl on here (Bam) tried Femera. she told me that it doesn't cause cysts like the clomid but you have to get it form a RE. maybe you should talk to you Dr about that when you got for the U/S.

[tinkerbell101]

Hiya

Just got back from the scan.. There was some shadow/remain of the cyst which looked deflated and empty and have been told that it will eventually disappear (fingers crossed) I asked them to see if they could see any ripe folicles for this month and there was nothing there!!... I don't know if this was because I have already ovulated or because I didnt produce any on my own. I didn't press her too hard as I am under a private clinic and to have the scan for a follie check is a half hour appointment and costs £75.00 and as the woman doing the scan wasn't V talkative or interested I thought it best to shut up!!

Anyways - back to your questions... I took Clomid 50mg CD5-9 on my first cycle and didn't get an OPK+ until day 16. Because it was my first month I had to have the monitoring scan which showed 2 mature follies - no pain & no BFP

The 2nd Cycle I took 50mg CD3-7 (as the clinic thought taking it early would produce more eggs and increase my chances of getting pregnant) I got OPK+ on CD14 again no pain just lots of cramps straight after O right through to AF and was convinced I had conceived but no BFP - (unmonitored cycle)

3rd cycle I took it 50mg CD3-7 and got OPK+ on CD14. I started having cramps around CD14 followed by a stinging pain, then around CD21 it turned into a burning stinging pain and CD25 I woke up in really bad pain which was like a stabbing pain and thats when I was told I had the cyst.

I don't get any pain any other time and intercourse is fine - no pain then.

I mentioned today trying a different drug and was told that I should try the Clomid for another 3 months then have a break as apparently it thins the uterine lining - FABULOUS!! I asked about increasing the dose but apparently not necessary as my 21 day bloods show I am ovulating with the Clomid.

Are you going to have monitored cycles/trigger shots with your clomid?

[nunu1977]

I hate it when the people doing the U/S are not friendly!!!!! I know they cant tell us what they see, but at least they can be nice about it!!!

I wonder if you had already ovulated and that's why they didn't see any follicles.  Do you use OPKs? do you know if you have had problems ovulating in the past? I seem to always get pain on my right side form the cysts and wonder if im even Oing from my left side. I was hoping the left side would O from the clomid, but all the pain seems to be on the right said again.

Im a little upset with my Dr. after the last U/S and he saw there were no cysts he gave me a three month RX for clomid and said come back in three months. with my history of cysts I would have though he would monitor me. I just phoned and left a message for the nurse. she has been known to take over a week to phone back.... i made sure the girl giving her the message makes sure I want to go in today for an U/S seen im CD13. If the pain is form the clomid doing its thing then im ok with that, but I REALLY want to know how many follicles have matured this cycle with the clomid so I need to get in soon before i O.

When the nurse phones back im going to ask about trigger shots. Im sure they will say to wait and see whats goes on over the next few months. I ma curious as to how much they cost.

I really hope that you get a BFP with this next cycle of clomid. how do you feel about trying it for another three months?

[tinkerbell101]

Good for you - it s*cks that you have to push for everything though doesnt it!!  I hope they call you back soon. TTC is stressful enough without having to fight to find out whats going on. I wish I had the funds to get an U/S every month as think it would give me a clearer picture of what is going on so my clinic use the bloodtests on CD21 instead which only indicates whether I ovulated and not the quality or quantity of the eggs released. In the UK a trigger shot at my clinic isn't much I think its something like £20 but I haven't needed one as I seem to be ovulating without it.

I am so surprised that they didn't give you monitoring it doesnt seem right given your history. Keep moaning about the pain and they will have to give you a scan!!

I know people have mentioned that they do get some pain and throbbing sensation in their ovaries whilst on Clomid which is normal for them but it has never happened to me.

I am a bit worried about doing another 3 months of clomid but it is the cheaper option as the Gonal F monitored cycles can cost alot more!!

I am hoping that I did ovulate early as no follies were seen as did get the high on my monitor which picked up the LH surge (although it wasn't picked up on the OPK so maybe I missed it?) and praying for a miracle.

I was ovulating on my own before the clomid but early in my cycle on CD8 or 9 which was why the reason I was put on the clomid, to delay my ovulation and give me a better chance of releasing a mature egg.

It would be a complete longshot to get a BFP but gotta keep positive, stranger things have happened

Good luck with getting everything sorted - keep me posted and let me know what happens I will be thinking of you!!!

[nunu1977]

yea the nurse hasn't phoned back yet and it already 12.20pm. Im half tempted to phone them again but i think they are out for lunch from 12-1.30.

I wish I had of thought to ask the nurse that phoned (two weeks after i left a message) about being monitored.
I OPK twice a day. in the Am and the PM. the AM is always darker than the PM, and that confuses me because they say its better to test in the PM.
I worry  hat ill miss my surge. its so frustrating!!!!!!

Oing CD8 or 9 is early! maybe you were lucky this cycle and the egg was mature enough!

Clomid is the cheapest thing here as well. its $29 for 5 pills. my insurance pays for some of it so I only pay $17.

So i just phoned the Drs again. it was the same receptionist.  all she said was the nurse was really good at returning calls... what ever!!!!! why does it take over a week sometimes then???? she is sending another message to her now. I even said i don't mind talking with another nurse if she is too busy. the receptionist started to have a little attitude..... Grrrrrr

What CD are you now?

[tinkerbell101]

Grrrr I am growling at the nurse for you!!!

I do my monitor in the morning and back it up with OPKs morning and night too! Don't wanna miss the vital time. I am kicking myself that I didn't start the OPK's earlier as then I would know if I ovulated or not - never mind no point stressing over it now...

I am CD13 today - got my peak which picked up the LH surge on the monitor yesterday so I guess I am ovulating today which is pretty cool and not bad for me... thats if I have ovulated! I will keep an eye on my temps and am praying for a spike in temp tomorrow. fingers crossed!!!

Like you I have only ever seen a positive on the ones with the lines in the morning but last month I used the digital ones and got a positive all day. I know it says to test in the evening but my theory in that if you drink alot of fluid it will dilute the urine too much!! I run pretty much everyday and drink gallons of water.

Was your recent M/C your first pregnancy?

[nunu1977]

I drink a lot as well, and not drinking dry up CM.. so I cant win either way. im either diluting the LH in my urine by drinking water or helping my CM dry up by not drinking water.

it was my first pregnancy. it was twins as well. got to get my step kids from the bus. write more soon

[afasino]

I am 30 yrs old.  My husband and I have been ttc for 2 years.  We went through our first round of Clomid (100mg days 3-7) and IUI last month.  I was in severe pain all month, had terrible hot flashes and was incredibly moody.  I ended up in the hospital because of a fever.  It turns out that I had an enlarged Ovary that was caused from the Clomid.  The Doctor said if I was pregnant, we wouldn't worry about it.  If I wasn't pregnant, we'd have to change my treatment plan.  I wasn't pregnant...so, this cycle I took 5mg of Letrozole on days 4-8 (should have been 3-7 but had a hard time filling Rx).  Today is day 12.  I had my ultrasound.  My left ovary is normal size and I have 6 follicles under 12mm.  My right ovary is triple it's size with a massive cyst on it.  It also has 2 follicles under 12 mm.  The Nurse could only tell me what she was seeing and not what she thought the Doctor would do about it.  The cyst was a result of using the Clomid.  I'm assuming they will skip IUI this month until the cyst is gone (either on its own or through removal).  I have done some research on Cysts after Clomid and it seems to be a very common problem

[nunu1977]

- i just finished three months on clomid. I went to a new Dr this week and she is seeing more on the US than just cysts. it seems that I have a problem with polyps in my uterus and that could be what is causing most of my pain and stopping my from TTC again. I did not take the clomid this cycle and the NP said she could see one mature follie on my left side. if I dont get preggers from the cycle then I will have to have a balloon put in my uterus and have another US to see if it is polyps, if it is then I will have to have another D&C. I dont want another D&C but if it will help me get preggers then ill do it!

I hope that your ovary will get back to normal fast so you can get on with your fertility treatment. lost of BD to you!

[afasino]

Thanks!  The Doctor wanted me to wait 48 hours then return for another ultrasound and blood test.  I go in tomorrow morning at 9:00.  I'll let you know what they say!

[afasino]

The cyst has reduced its size by a lot.  So that's great news.  I developed two more follicles on my left ovary.  However, all 8 are >12mm.  My E2 went from 87 to 97 in 48 hours.  Something is going on in there...it's just really slow. The Doctor wants to retest on Monday.  If there aren't any mature follicles or if my E2 doesn't increase, they will cancel treatment for this cycle.  Ahhh...the joys!

[nunu1977]

what is E2? I am glad that the cyst went down in size. are you seeing a RE or an OB/GYN?

[afasino]

E2 is your estrogen levels.  It should increase as you produce eggs.  I went in again today for repeat blood test and US.  The cyst is significantally smaller.  I have 20 follicles...all of which are under 12 mm.  I'm seeing a RE.  The first 1.5 years of trying we stuck with the OB.  We've been with RE for 4 months now.  If nothing happens this cycle, I'm going to give up on the IUI and start with IVF.

[nunu1977]

I hope everything works out so you can try the IUI as I know it is a lot cheaper im sure! How much is IVF? my insurance wont even cover diagnostics with infertility. thankfully because of the pain they can try and figure out why im not getting pregnant along with fixing the pain. I am 99% positive that not getting pregnant and the pain are related
Im tracking my BBT right now. it went up some today but not enough to say I have O'd. I am praying that it goes up tomorrow. I was in  a lot of pain yesterday and last night so Im hoping that it was O pains. if my BBT doesn't go up then im going to ask the NP to go ahead and do the procedure to see if I need the D&C... no use wasting time if im not pregnant and not even Oing!

[afasino]

Keep me posted!  I hope that you were ovulating!!

I went in for another vaginal ultrasound and E2 test.  The nurse called me late afternoon yesterday to tell me that "we missed ovulation".  I nearly lost my mind on her.  I have spent thousands of dollars this month for them to make me ovulate on their time and they missed it?  Not cool!  I am meeting with the doctor today at 2:30.  I'm hoping to remain calm.  They want me to start treatment again after my period.  I'm done with the IUI thing.  I keep wasting my time and money.  I am going to ask to go right to IVF.  We'll see what he says.  For the IUI we have been spending about $5k a month.  I think IVF is around $9k.  Fortunately, my insurance covers $25k in a lifetime.  We've used a lot of it but it's better than nothing.  Some states require you to have infertility coverage.  I work in RI but live in MA.  MA requires the coverage, RI does not.  So we're using up all of my insurance coverage on my RI plan and then jumping on my husbands MA plan. Does your state require coverage?

[nunu1977]

no I wish FL did require it! my insurance doesn't even cover diagnostics for infertility! that's why I haven't gone for IUI yet.
I cant believe they missed ovulation!!!!! do they discount your next treatment because of that?
you are paying a lot for IUI!!!!! Bam is paying $600 for IUI nad I believe that is everything included except for the medication. when her cysts is gone that is. the month she finally is going to have IUI and she vets a cysts that stops AF form arriving.

So do you think your Dr will be ok with IVF? If I could afford it I would go for it!

[afasino]

We're going for a consultation with another RE group next week.  The Dr blamed the cyst for missing ovulation which I think is a bunch of BS.  Everytime I go for the US and Blood work it costs around $750.  This cycle they had me come in 5 times to check me and then they miss ovulation.  So I'm ready to explore other options.

[nunu1977]

you I would go to a different Dr and try something new for sure! let me know what happens at you appointment!

[afasino]

So....

I ended up at the same Dr. because of the timing with the arrival of my period.  I started injections (Follitism) last Tuesday.  Today's ultrasound showed 8 follicles between the sizes of 13.5mm and 16mm.  I'm taking my trigger shot tonight and having the IUI on Wednesday morning.  Fingers crossed!

How are you feeling?

[nunu1977]

how many days does it take for the follies to be the right size? do they have to be 20mm? I hope they get it right this time!!!!! let me know how it all goes

im going to the NP on Friday to have a saline ultrasound. they put this thing into my uterus and put saline in there and then do an ultrasound. she thinks i have polyps and will need another D&C. I had to wait for AF and she showed up on Sunday. my first visit with her she said the lining of my uterus was way thick and it should have been thin seen I had just had AF. So im out of the game for a few months I guess... I guess ill know wmore of what is happening on Friday after the procedure.

[afasino]

I have read on blogs that most people's dr would like the follicles to be 20mm.  However, my Dr had me trigger with them at 13-16mm.  He also had a talk with me about the risk of multiples.  So I'm assuming that means, 13-16 is mature??  We'll see how it goes...I feel like my period may be coming soon.

I had the saline test done.  It's not bad.  I hope it goes well.  Keep me posted.

[nunu1977]

the saline US was ok. she found a fibroid but doesnt think that is whats causing pain. I am scheduled for a scope for Oct 2nd. I hope I can get pregnant before then so I don't need it.
20 mature follies is a lot. what CD are you now?

[afasino]

I'm in the middle of my TWW now.  I go for my preg test next Wednesday....

[afasino]

Got my period on Monday.  Went for baseline ultrasound on Wednesday.  I have developed another cyst from treatment.  First one was on my RT ovary.  This one is on my LT ovary.  We have to sit this cycle out until it goes away.  That was our 21st negative test result.  Fun...

[nunu1977]

Im so sorry!!! its such a emotional roller coaster isn't it!

im 1-2DPO. I got a +OPK but my temp hasn't gone up too much yet. not sure whats going on there!

[afasino]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!