I finally went to my doctor and talked about our concerns trying to conceive (I just turned 36 and we've been trying for a year) and she recommended an appointment with a specialist which I'm making and mentioned they will probably start with clomid...
I know a lot of people on here have had experience with it so I'm just looking for thoughts, opinions, experience with it etc...
Hi @aim22. When you see a specialist or RE (reproductive endocrinologist) they will probably start with running a series of tests. They will do baseline bloodwork which usually needs to be done on CD 2 or 3 which test abunch of hormone levels including FSH and AMH which will give an idea of ovarian reserve. They will also schedule a HSG which is a radiology test to check for any tube blockages. They will also do a semen analysis (SA) for your partner.
Many insurance companies (mine - BCBS) will also require a 'clomid challenge'. They put you on clomid for days 5-9 of your cycle to see how your hormone levels respond. After you do all these tests your doctor will schedule a follow up so you can decide what the strategy will be. It is likely they will start with clomid because it is non-invasive.
I took clomid the beginning of this cycle for clomid challenge and will probably do another cycle or two on it before we go to more aggressive treatments. I didn't have any side-effects but I'm on CD 22 and haven't seen any signs of ovulation so it may have been delayed by the clomid - I just had blood work done today to make sure it didn't already happen without me noticing.
Is that helpful? There is also a weekly thread on the TTGP board about testing and treatments where you may want to lurk. That board is much more active and a lot of the women are taking clomid so you should take a look there too.
Good luck and keep us posted. :-)
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
I am on my third cycle of Clomid 50 mg (which I think is the lowest). I have insurance that pays for a portion of my RE tests and fertility visits, and minimal amount towards IUI/IVF, which is better than none, but so far we have not decided to opt for either of those. But, after months of trying at the right time under guidance of an RE, I chose to at least give Clomid a try. I was not told I had to do this for insurance, I was just given it as an option. So of course it varies by insurance whether it's a requirement or not, but maybe if I were to do IVF they would require it, but I haven't looked into it enough.
I ovulate very regularly, so I'm not taking Clomid to make me ovulate, I just thought it may help my chances. I've had some headaches around ovulation but nothing else. I take mine CD 3-5. @laurad75 - I noticed some comments in various threads/boards from women who say they started off taking them CD5 but because this made them O later in their cycle, the MD had them take it sooner on CD 3 instead. Mine just started off the bat with CD 3...but I have no clue why they decide to start people on which day, maybe it's based on your cycle history.
When I did my first cycle, they had me go in for blood work and ultrasound once I got a positive OPK to confirm ovulation. They said to start using the OPK on CD 11 because any sooner it would probably give a false positive. Every cycle (even without clomid) I get a +OPK on CD13. On that day they tell me to have intercourse that day and for the next three days (although we've started sooner most cycles).
Best of luck to you and I hope you find some answers during your testing!! I felt a lot better once we finally knew what was going on, even though for my situation it's considered unexplained. Just having the RE on your side for support and to help you get to the root of it is such a relief!
I started clomid on CD 5 because it was for my insurance test (clomid challenge). Next cycle I will start it on CD 3.
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
Re: clomid questions
Many insurance companies (mine - BCBS) will also require a 'clomid challenge'. They put you on clomid for days 5-9 of your cycle to see how your hormone levels respond. After you do all these tests your doctor will schedule a follow up so you can decide what the strategy will be. It is likely they will start with clomid because it is non-invasive.
I took clomid the beginning of this cycle for clomid challenge and will probably do another cycle or two on it before we go to more aggressive treatments. I didn't have any side-effects but I'm on CD 22 and haven't seen any signs of ovulation so it may have been delayed by the clomid - I just had blood work done today to make sure it didn't already happen without me noticing.
Is that helpful? There is also a weekly thread on the TTGP board about testing and treatments where you may want to lurk. That board is much more active and a lot of the women are taking clomid so you should take a look there too.
Good luck and keep us posted. :-)
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
I am on my third cycle of Clomid 50 mg (which I think is the lowest). I have insurance that pays for a portion of my RE tests and fertility visits, and minimal amount towards IUI/IVF, which is better than none, but so far we have not decided to opt for either of those. But, after months of trying at the right time under guidance of an RE, I chose to at least give Clomid a try. I was not told I had to do this for insurance, I was just given it as an option. So of course it varies by insurance whether it's a requirement or not, but maybe if I were to do IVF they would require it, but I haven't looked into it enough.
I ovulate very regularly, so I'm not taking Clomid to make me ovulate, I just thought it may help my chances. I've had some headaches around ovulation but nothing else. I take mine CD 3-5. @laurad75 - I noticed some comments in various threads/boards from women who say they started off taking them CD5 but because this made them O later in their cycle, the MD had them take it sooner on CD 3 instead. Mine just started off the bat with CD 3...but I have no clue why they decide to start people on which day, maybe it's based on your cycle history.
When I did my first cycle, they had me go in for blood work and ultrasound once I got a positive OPK to confirm ovulation. They said to start using the OPK on CD 11 because any sooner it would probably give a false positive. Every cycle (even without clomid) I get a +OPK on CD13. On that day they tell me to have intercourse that day and for the next three days (although we've started sooner most cycles).
Best of luck to you and I hope you find some answers during your testing!! I felt a lot better once we finally knew what was going on, even though for my situation it's considered unexplained. Just having the RE on your side for support and to help you get to the root of it is such a relief!
Husband: 40
TTC#1 since 9/2014
Unexplained Infertility - Trying naturally
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
Husband: 40
TTC#1 since 9/2014
Unexplained Infertility - Trying naturally