5th round of Clomid-Whats wrong/Whats next?

[GabesMomAndNavyWife]

Hi Guys,
I am new to this forum (first post) so I am hoping I get some feedback.  I have been on 5 rounds of clomid now, I started my first round in July, then Aug, then Sept, then Oct, then NOTHING in Nov because my husband was gone (Navy) for 6 weeks.  We have since moved and now my cycle for Dec I have started my 5th round (I had one refill I took with me from our last doctor).  I don't know what is going wrong.  

Here is a little background on me in hopes this may help, I have a son who is 5 now and concieved no problem (actually on accident). I was not married.  I am now married and of course love my husband very much.  He has adopted our son (finally finalized!!!!) and we are wanting one or two more.  So I have been able to concieve, but not with my husband. He has had a few tests done, and the doctor says he is fine, although Im not so sure and want to look in to some medicine for him.  THEN, I did have an IUD put in July of 06 and removed it in Jan 09.  So we have been TTC for a year now.  Before I had the IUD I had the depo shot which made my period go away.  I did not have a period from 2004 to 2009 I believe...

My doctor put me on Metformin right before my husband left, so we only got to try it for one cycle. It was HORRIBLE. It made me SO sick.  Now that we have moved and Im back on Clomid this cycle, I have decided not to take Met again. It was just too bad.

But that is about it. 5 cycles of clomid, Ive had a period every month since I took the IUD out, so doesnt that mean I'm ovulating?   I know this was alot of information, but Im desperately hoping someone can shed some light, a happy story, whats next? Anything.  We have been considering IVF but it is so expensive, and dont know if it is too soon yet.  Please send me your thoughts. I greatly greatly appreciate it! Thank ya'll so much!

[GabesMomAndNavyWife]

Wow you guys, thank you. Thank you so much for all of your help thus far.  Yes, I am 24 and I have not been diagnosed with PCOS.  My doctor mentioned it, and wanted me to try it.  I still to this day have never been diagnosed with it.  I was taking 1000 mg twice a day.  It made me unbelievably sick.  If I ate something with too much sugar, I got sick, if I didnt eat enough, I got sick. There was no happy medium.  I stopped taking it because it was so bad.

My husband and I have researched our tails off, and he trys to do everything he can to up his count, and boost his motility.  Aside from the very occasional beer, he doesnt smoke, wears boxers, ect.  I had read somewhere that there were medications for men, which I had no idea about because our doctor had never mentioned anything about male infertility.

Do you think that the IUD could have anything to do with it?  Or me not having a period for about 5 years?  The doctors all told me there was nothing to worry about, that not having a period was okay, but that didnt seam right to me.  I had also heard that coming off an IUD it took a while for your body to regulate, but I have had a period every month since it was removed. I always just assumed that that meant I was ovulating. Ive also heard of women becoming pregnant 2 weeks after its removed...

I have also gained alot, 80 lbs alot, of weight since my son.  I have read many times, that it takes larger women longer to concieve than smaller women.  Is that true?  I am 5'7 and about 200-205 lbs.  I cant help but think that is the reason also.  I guess there are just so many factors that play in to us not being able to concieve, it is all so frustrating and emotionally draining especially when you don't even know where to start, and have been doing what the doctor has said.  Its so tough every month durring that 2WW and then you feel awful when you start.  I guess it keeps me pushing forward because I know there are other families out there who have gone through this/something like this, and have had 1 or many happy endings.  Thank you all for your posts thus far!

Joy--Im so sorry to hear about all you have gone through. I can not imagine. Bless your heart.  But you are so lucky to have that baby boy! Congratulations! I am so very happy for you!

Thank you guys!

[JoyRenee]

babybiff- her profile says she is 24.

So you were diagnosed with PCOS? Or did they start you on Metformin without even diagnosing you? Because you shouldn't be on it unless you truly need it.

It sounds like it could be your husband but secondary infertility is always something that can crop up. It happened to me after my second daughter was born. I developed PCOS and it took 13 months to conceive only to miscarry. I used Clomid for two cycles and then stopped. The month I stopped was the month I conceived and miscarried. I DID become pregnant after my first period after the loss and my beautiful baby was born this past October and is 2 months old.

PCOS can make you anovulatory, which means you don't ovulate. That is why you'd be on the Clomid, to help you ovulate. I would try Femara. Clomid isn't meant to be taken many times since they don't know the side effects it could cause to you the woman and the future fertility of your children.

I would suggest trying some natural things for your husband to do- he should take vitamins. There's one specific one he should take and I forgot which one it is. I will try to remember to look it up for you. He should wear boxers if he doesn't already. He should ditch alcohol/cigarettes and stick to water as much as humanly possible. There are also some fruits and vegetables that boost fertility. These changes could drastically change his sperm's motility and count.

And babybiff had some good suggestions for continuing to look for a problem.

If you truly are needing Metformin, how much are you currently on? The dose may need to be increased. Most women with PCOS are on 2000-2500mg a day. It has to be increased slowly.

[babybiff]

You didn't mention your age, but if you're in your thirties egg quality & count can be a factor.  You really do need to see a fertility specialist.  In some women Clomid can actually act like birth control.

I would suggest starting with some diagnostics:  bloodwork (hormone levels, glucose, immunological) and maybe an HSG (to check on tubes / fibroids / uterus) or lap to check for endo or adhesions.  

Also, IUI's are really cheap ($250) and can help a lot if your husband's sperm is the problem or contributes to the problem.  It puts them right where they need to be.

There is a lot that can be done to try to figure out why it's taking so long and help it along a little.  Your doctor should be leading you through all this, if he's not... then you've got the wrong doctor.  Don't waste time with a bad doc....  

[GabesMomAndNavyWife]

Thank you so much for replying.  Yes Ive been on 50mg the whole time. After 3 cycles the doc wanted to keep me on 50 and add Metformin to it. So maybe you are right, I just need to up it.  He has been doing follow ups with blood tests to make sure I am ovulating (I think that is what he is checking) my progesterone levels...  So youre right, that may be an option.  

Im wondering if there are any meds my husband can try.  He was low on his count, and his motility was really low the first time(hes done two) (his 'normal' boys).  No idea.  Havnt got to see a doc here where we just moved yet. Going to make an appt now.  Considering IUI? I think I may ask.  Thank you again! And good luck to you too!

[Eirlis]

My husband and I met with a fertility specialist since I have a history of miscarriage. Our treatment plan if I lose my current pregnancy is to only try clomid for three cycles, increasing the dosage each cycle. If that doesn't work, then we'd go on to some of the injectable drugs that are more powerful than clomid. IVF is the last resort if none of the above works...

Have you been on the same dose of clomid every cycle? If so, you probably need to try a higher dose to see if that helps. I'd suggest seeing a fertility specialist so you are working with someone who can monitor you to ensure you are ovulating. I know my doctor wants to confirm ovulation both with an OPK and with an ultrasound.

There are plenty of options before IVF that are not nearly as expensive, so I'd suggest you go see a doctor and explore some of those. Good luck!