Everything you know about Clomid...

[JoyRenee]

I have PCOS and I have an appointment on Friday with my doctor. She hinted at Clomid last time but I said I wanted to try Metformin first. Well............ still not pregnant and I'm thinking she may suggest it again at this appointment. Rather than just research this all on my own, I'd love to hear personal experiences.

1). How do you adminster Clomid? Is it a pill?

2). How did it make you feel?

3). Did it help YOU conceive? If so, did you have a singleton or multiple babies?

4). When do you stop taking Clomid?

5). Does your doctor have to monitor you while using this? And if so, how?

6). What are the risks of taking it for ME? What are the risks to baby if I take it (birth defects or anything?)?


And anything else you can think of! I'd like to have an informed decision when I go instead of feeling pressured or not heard. Not that I think my doc will do that (she's wonderful) but I hate feeling inept. Thanks!!!

[therese101]

Hey Joy,
Firstly i used clomid back three years ago when we were first trying to conceive, it is a pill taken for 5 days usually days 3-7, I took it with the metaformin. Side effects were just a little bloating and i was more moody than usual. I fell pregnant first round of 50mg. M/C at about 9 weeks, singleton pregnancy. Monitoring was i had a blood test at 21 days and about 6 days after finnishing taking it an ultrasound to confirm that i did have a follicle. I am not sure of the risks for taking it for you i never had any problems and as far as i am aware no risks for baby. Umm... Doc said that you ovulate around 6-8 days of taking them so to bed on days 11 through to 15. After that just a waiting game. Good Luck. After i m/c i went on and did 5 more cycles with no luck. If you do not ovulate with the first month of taking them they just increase your dose for the next month until they can get you to ovulate.

[krushing]

Joy:  I'm so happy you did this.  RE told me after 3 months of natural cycles, if I don't fall preggers, then we do Clomid.  I'm working on the month #2.

therese101:  Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Clomid.

[rjoshua]

1) Clomid is administer as a pill with several doses pending your circumstances

2) For me, I had hot flashes and very irritable, as well as dry cm

3) 1st time no; currently in 2WW  (w/iui)  with my 2nd attemp so don't know if successful

4) RE had me take cd 5-9

5)  My cycles have always been monitored with bloodwork and ultrasounds, but paid for this out of pocket.  Be sure to check your insurance.

6)  I don't know all the risks, but from my understanding it is relatively safe

You may still want to do your own research just to have all the facts as each body is different and doesn't always respond the same.

[kaprovea]

I also have PCOS and was never ovulating on my own.  I took Clomid for 3 months and was never monitored.  I was instructed to chart my temps.  This did not work for me at all so I switched to an RE and he looked at my charts and told me right away that it wasn't going to work for me and he put me on metformin and we are doing IVF to concieve.

[mommyin09]

Hi.  I'm currently on my third cycle of clomid.  My first two were at 50mg cd5-9.  This time I'm taking 100mg, also cd5-9. Yes, it's a small pill taken daily. I'm sure different doctors do different things, but for me, this is my last cycle.  If it doesn't work this time, I'll be referred to an infertility doc to start clomid with iui. The only risk I've heard about is the possibility of developing ovarian cysts, but before beginning clomid & before each subsequent cycle on clomid, your doc will do an ultrasound to make sure you're cyst-free. I haven't noticed any side effects, other than feeling O pain, like I'm O'ing the week I'm taking the pills & it makes me feel sleepy. I've heard some women get very emotional, but I haven't experienced that yet.  I did warn dh, though!  I'll go back to have an u/s at cd14 to see how many follies I have.  That part is exciting! :) Good luck to you!  

[35MomOfBoys]

I read somewhere that the chances are slightly higher of conceiving a girl on clomid, but not sure if this is true...  i'm curious though if anyone else has heard that...

[JoyRenee]

I have PCOS, so there are tiny cysts. Does that affect anything? I'm currently taking 1000mg of Metformin.

Thank you, also, to everyone else because I have a clearer picture of how the cycle would play out (in regards as to when I'd take the Clomid, etc.).

This is exciting and scary at the same time! I think Clomid is my last resort, though. If this doesn't work, then we're not going to do IUI or IVF. It's just too much money. We're blessed with two little girls and I'll be satisfied either way. But I'm definitely  hoping for more babies!

[JoyRenee]

Oh, and does anyone actually know the percentage of multiples while taking Clomid? I think twins would be fascinating, though my husband doesn't think so! Anything to ease his mind, maybe?

[SLB123]

I was on clomid CD 5-9. I started on 50 mg the 1st month and every month after did 100mg., which was 5 cycles total. I didn't get pregnant on it, was not monitored-just did some OPK's and I believe I did get a positive on those, I don't believe there are any risks for you or baby, it can cause ovarian cysts though, it gave me mild hot flashes and some wicked cramping around ovulation time, and I've heard it can cause multiples but I don't believe it's real common. Good luck to you though! My doctor asked if I'd like to try clomid again and now that I've started metformin I'm thinking about giving it one more try. It's been about a year since I tried it.

[mommyin09]

Hi.  I don't have pcos, so I'm not sure about the tiny cysts.  I'm guessing that the u/s is looking for cysts that could burst, so maybe not tiny ones.  I'm really not positive on that.  Sorry !  My u/s showed that I have small follicles ready to grow & that's perfectly normal.  So, I would just ask your doc when you go in on Fri.  It is really exciting & it's good to be monitored.  I didn't mention I actually O on my own, but a combination of progesterone supps & the clomid has lengthened my luteal phase & is also giving me that extra boost :)  Best of luck to you !!!

[tea_berries]

I have PCOS and I take clomid with metformin.  I felt pregnancy symptoms with clomid.  But it made me ovulate late and made my cycles 33day on the dot.  I got pregnant with my last try of clomid it was our I think fifth and last round.  I lost all my hopes and planned on resting after the last round... Well the big surprise came... We got pregnant with the last round.  Of course on that time I did some herbal supplements with it and whatever made me pregnant I think its a sum of all the yoga and vacation; herbal supplement; clomid and metformin... I don't know but clomid made me ovulate every single month

[35MomOfBoys]

What supplements did you take?  I just bought  vitex (chasteberry) yesterday and i am wandering if you can take it with clomid.  Some ppl say it cancels it out???