PCOS/Clomid cycle length

Hollygirl7

I found out recently that I have PCOS and started taking metformin (1000mg) a couple weeks ago, and have just started my first clomid cycle.

I'm on 50mg days 3-7, and what I'm wondering is what it will do to my cycle length, and when I'll ovulate while on clomid. My unmedicated cycles are anywhere between 31 and 54 days long. Everything I've read about clomid says that most women will ovulate 7-14 days after stopping the medication. That would put me at O'ing on CD14-21, but some normal cycles I don't O until day 40 (if at all) so I don't know what to expect. 

In your experience, when did you ovulate while taking clomid? Did your cycles shorten? Did you take it on days 3-7 or 5-9?

Twinkie0612

I ovulated on CD 15 with Clomid, which is pretty normal for me. Your doc should be able to estimate when you will ovulate based on your follicles at your monitoring appointment. I

WillCMyInk

It should theoretically make you O earlier (if you respond), but you should be monitored to have a better idea of when. Disclaimer: I have never taken Clomid, just Femara.

LyssRob

Everyone is going to ask you if you're being monitored. I did 2 cycles of Clomid with injects and ovidrel, but I think they had me O around day 20 or so. So, a little longer than a "normal" cycle, but better than my needing Provera on CD 90.

Hollygirl7

GhostMonkey said:

I don't own a crystal ball, so I have no way to answer with accuracy. Everyone responds differently. Some don't respond at all.

I was careful to not ask you to tell me how I'd respond (obivously you can't...) I was asking what your own response was to taking clomid with a normally long cycle. 

BankerBSN

I have O'd as early as CD12 while others I never O'd and need provera to start my cycle. I always found that my monitoring ultrasound would give me the answers...

Hollygirl7

LyssRob said:

Everyone is going to ask you if you're being monitored. I did 2 cycles of Clomid with injects and ovidrel, but I think they had me O around day 20 or so. So, a little longer than a "normal" cycle, but better than my needing Provera on CD 90.

I'm not being monitored. My family doctor was okay with prescribing clomid 3-6 cycles to see if it worked, and if not then we'll consider going to the fertility clinic. It's over an hour away, and we have no health insurance, so it's all out of pocket.

BankerBSN

Hollygirl7 said:

LyssRob said:

Everyone is going to ask you if you're being monitored. I did 2 cycles of Clomid with injects and ovidrel, but I think they had me O around day 20 or so. So, a little longer than a "normal" cycle, but better than my needing Provera on CD 90.

I'm not being monitored. My family doctor was okay with prescribing clomid 3-6 cycles to see if it worked, and if not then we'll consider going to the fertility clinic. It's over an hour away, and we have no health insurance, so it's all out of pocket.

I was out of pocket for my IF and I decided that my health was extremely important to me so I choose to do it the right way and be monitored.  Please do not take the Clomid and make the hour trip first.

Also, I hope you have some cash saved up for maternity care....

Siamese253

BankerBSN said:

I have O'd as early as CD12 while others I never O'd and need provera to start my cycle. I always found that my monitoring ultrasound would give me the answers...

I'm on my first clomid cycle with PCOS as well (CD11), I'm suppose to temp and use OPK's, when I have positive OPK the RE said to call for an appointment. Is there suppose to be another appointment in there for an ultrasound? I'm fearful that I'm doing this wrong...

Siamese253

GhostMonkey said:

Siamese253 said:

BankerBSN said:

I have O'd as early as CD12 while others I never O'd and need provera to start my cycle. I always found that my monitoring ultrasound would give me the answers...

I'm on my first clomid cycle with PCOS as well (CD11), I'm suppose to temp and use OPK's, when I have positive OPK the RE said to call for an appointment. Is there suppose to be another appointment in there for an ultrasound? I'm fearful that I'm doing this wrong...

You should not be touching OPKs or temping during a medicated cycle.

What?! MF'ing RE! Son of a waste of F'ing money!!

 

Whew, sorry. So how should this cycle have gone? (So I'll know when I get a new RE...)

 

EDIT: Saw Meats reply after I posted this, disregard.

Hollygirl7

GhostMonkey said:

Hollygirl7 said:

GhostMonkey said:

I don't own a crystal ball, so I have no way to answer with accuracy. Everyone responds differently. Some don't respond at all.

I was careful to not ask you to tell me how I'd respond (obivously you can't...) I was asking what your own response was to taking clomid with a normally long cycle. 

Some will ovulate on Day 10, some on Day 14, some on Day 20, some will not ovulate at all.

You will likely fall somewhere in that range. Clomid is does not guarantee that you will respond. I've seen many with PCOS and long cycles not respond at all. Some overstimulate with a low dose.

And yes, you did ask that.

Hollygirl7 said:

I found out recently that I have PCOS and started taking metformin (1000mg) a couple weeks ago, and have just started my first clomid cycle.

I'm on 50mg days 3-7, and what I'm wondering is what it will do to my cycle length, and when I'll ovulate while on clomid. My unmedicated cycles are anywhere between 31 and 54 days long. Everything I've read about clomid says that most women will ovulate 7-14 days after stopping the medication. That would put me at O'ing on CD14-21, but some normal cycles I don't O until day 40 (if at all) so I don't know what to expect. 

In your experience, when did you ovulate while taking clomid? Did your cycles shorten? Did you take it on days 3-7 or 5-9?

You know, I'm only being defensive because your very first response to my honest questions was to tell me you weren't a fortune teller. I don't know why your mind would seize upon that one statement and not the list of questions I actually had at the end of my explanation (because that's what it was...an explanation of how I'm feeling and what I'm wondering.)

At any rate, thank-you for your response. It fits with what I, too, have observed, and how everyone responds differently, especially with different doses.

What I'm more looking for at this time, though, is actual experience with people who have had crazy long cycles and the changes they've noticed. With all my previous research, that is the one thing I couldn't find. Most stories I could find about women ovulating on clomid told of 30-35 day cycles, or ovulating because of a trigger shot.

BankerBSN

Siamese253 said:

BankerBSN said:

I have O'd as early as CD12 while others I never O'd and need provera to start my cycle. I always found that my monitoring ultrasound would give me the answers...

I'm on my first clomid cycle with PCOS as well (CD11), I'm suppose to temp and use OPK's, when I have positive OPK the RE said to call for an appointment. Is there suppose to be another appointment in there for an ultrasound? I'm fearful that I'm doing this wrong...

Yes, you are doing it wrong.  My first cycle consisted of a ultrasound on CD3 for a baseline to make sure I did not have cysts then Clomid CD3-7 and monitoring songs staring on CD10.  I would then go every 2-3 days to watch the follies develop.

Others may have different experiences.  I was also told to not temp or use OPKs.  Your temps can be way off due to the medications you are taking.  

Are you seeing a RE?

cls78

Siamese253 said:

GhostMonkey said:

Siamese253 said:

BankerBSN said:

I have O'd as early as CD12 while others I never O'd and need provera to start my cycle. I always found that my monitoring ultrasound would give me the answers...

I'm on my first clomid cycle with PCOS as well (CD11), I'm suppose to temp and use OPK's, when I have positive OPK the RE said to call for an appointment. Is there suppose to be another appointment in there for an ultrasound? I'm fearful that I'm doing this wrong...

You should not be touching OPKs or temping during a medicated cycle.

What?! MF'ing RE! Son of a waste of F'ing money!!

 

Whew, sorry. So how should this cycle have gone? (So I'll know when I get a new RE...)

Yes! I go in cd 3 and between cd 10-12, so I know when to trigger.

Hollygirl7

BankerBSN said:

Hollygirl7 said:

LyssRob said:

Everyone is going to ask you if you're being monitored. I did 2 cycles of Clomid with injects and ovidrel, but I think they had me O around day 20 or so. So, a little longer than a "normal" cycle, but better than my needing Provera on CD 90.

I'm not being monitored. My family doctor was okay with prescribing clomid 3-6 cycles to see if it worked, and if not then we'll consider going to the fertility clinic. It's over an hour away, and we have no health insurance, so it's all out of pocket.

I was out of pocket for my IF and I decided that my health was extremely important to me so I choose to do it the right way and be monitored.  Please do not take the Clomid and make the hour trip first.

Also, I hope you have some cash saved up for maternity care....

I'm Canadian. Maternity care is free.

Hollygirl7

GhostMonkey said:

BankerBSN said:

Hollygirl7 said:

LyssRob said:

Everyone is going to ask you if you're being monitored. I did 2 cycles of Clomid with injects and ovidrel, but I think they had me O around day 20 or so. So, a little longer than a "normal" cycle, but better than my needing Provera on CD 90.

I'm not being monitored. My family doctor was okay with prescribing clomid 3-6 cycles to see if it worked, and if not then we'll consider going to the fertility clinic. It's over an hour away, and we have no health insurance, so it's all out of pocket.

I was out of pocket for my IF and I decided that my health was extremely important to me so I choose to do it the right way and be monitored.  Please do not take the Clomid band make the hour trip first.

Also, I hope you have some cash saved up for maternity care....

I missed the no insurance part.

Enjoy your $25k bill for an uncomplicated delivery. Idiot.

Again with the hostility! I'm Canadian. My husband runs his own business, so we don't have health benefits. My prescriptions are paid out of pocket. 

Siamese253

BankerBSN said:

Siamese253 said:

BankerBSN said:

I have O'd as early as CD12 while others I never O'd and need provera to start my cycle. I always found that my monitoring ultrasound would give me the answers...

I'm on my first clomid cycle with PCOS as well (CD11), I'm suppose to temp and use OPK's, when I have positive OPK the RE said to call for an appointment. Is there suppose to be another appointment in there for an ultrasound? I'm fearful that I'm doing this wrong...

Yes, you are doing it wrong.  My first cycle consisted of a ultrasound on CD3 for a baseline to make sure I did not have cysts then Clomid CD3-7 and monitoring songs staring on CD10.  I would then go every 2-3 days to watch the follies develop.

Others may have different experiences.  I was also told to not temp or use OPKs.  Your temps can be way off due to the medications you are taking.  

Are you seeing a RE?

Yes, but apparently not a good one... I did have the CD3 appointment and when I asked "what's next" he specifically said temp and OPK's then call when you O. I thought it was a little strange/presumptuous, since I haved O'd in the 6 months that I've been temping...

BankerBSN

Siamese253 said:

BankerBSN said:

Siamese253 said:

BankerBSN said:

I have O'd as early as CD12 while others I never O'd and need provera to start my cycle. I always found that my monitoring ultrasound would give me the answers...

I'm on my first clomid cycle with PCOS as well (CD11), I'm suppose to temp and use OPK's, when I have positive OPK the RE said to call for an appointment. Is there suppose to be another appointment in there for an ultrasound? I'm fearful that I'm doing this wrong...

Yes, you are doing it wrong.  My first cycle consisted of a ultrasound on CD3 for a baseline to make sure I did not have cysts then Clomid CD3-7 and monitoring songs staring on CD10.  I would then go every 2-3 days to watch the follies develop.

Others may have different experiences.  I was also told to not temp or use OPKs.  Your temps can be way off due to the medications you are taking.  

Are you seeing a RE?

Yes, but apparently not a good one... I did have the CD3 appointment and when I asked "what's next" he specifically said temp and OPK's then call when you O. I thought it was a little strange/presumptuous, since I haved O'd in the 6 months that I've been temping...

Yeah...I would start looking for a new one.  GL!

BankerBSN

Hollygirl7 said:

GhostMonkey said:

BankerBSN said:

Hollygirl7 said:

LyssRob said:

Everyone is going to ask you if you're being monitored. I did 2 cycles of Clomid with injects and ovidrel, but I think they had me O around day 20 or so. So, a little longer than a "normal" cycle, but better than my needing Provera on CD 90.

I'm not being monitored. My family doctor was okay with prescribing clomid 3-6 cycles to see if it worked, and if not then we'll consider going to the fertility clinic. It's over an hour away, and we have no health insurance, so it's all out of pocket.

I was out of pocket for my IF and I decided that my health was extremely important to me so I choose to do it the right way and be monitored.  Please do not take the Clomid band make the hour trip first.

Also, I hope you have some cash saved up for maternity care....

I missed the no insurance part.

Enjoy your $25k bill for an uncomplicated delivery. Idiot.

Again with the hostility! I'm Canadian. My husband runs his own business, so we don't have health benefits. My prescriptions are paid out of pocket. 

GM is not being hostile but realistic.  

Okay, great, you have maternity care. But what happens when you get a cyst and  you need surgery?  That is a very realistic concern with Clomid.

beckynsean11

Just gonna put these here for OP

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/4873944/long-important-re-clomid-monitoring-possible-tmi

https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12055969/benched-why-monitoring-is-important

angeltennis3

The advice you are getting from these ladies is good advice. I don't think they are purposely trying to be hostile towards you...I just don't think you are hearing them.

Clomid is not candy. It can hurt you. That is why it is VERY important to be monitored. Everyone responds differently. For some, it has very harsh side effects, including overstimulating your ovaries. This can not only cause you very painful cysts, but could lead to bigger expenses down the road, such as surgery, and even affect your fertility in the future.

I am currently on my first cycle of Clomid. I had a CD3 ultrasound, a CD9 ultrasound, and bloowork done today at CD20 to see if I ovulated.

My RE said to keep taking OPKs & temping, but not to put all my eggs in those baskets as the medication can cause you to have false OPKs while taking Clomid, and one of the side effects is hot flashes, so obviously that will screw up your temping. He said to do EOD sex from CD 10-20, then they will do bloodwork to confirm if O has happened, and I just got the call that it has.

I took 100mg of Clomid CD5-9. On my CD9 ultrasound it was confirmed that I have 3 good follicles on my left ovary & 2 good ones on my right, and 0 cysts. Not everyone is that lucky. A lot of people do not respond to Clomid, and either need an increased dosage or need to pursue other routes.

Long story short...you have no idea how you will respond. It is better to do this right, since you can only take Clomid for six cycles in your life, then you are benched from it. Give yourself the best chance to get pregnant, and go to a RE who specializes in giving you a baby.

TheBorg7of9

I was monitored while I was on clomid through bloodwork and ultrasound.  It turned out we cancelled the cycle because I had 4-5 eggs ready to ovulate.  Very glad I monitored and cancelled and did not end up with triplets.

tippytoes06

I have health insurance but it doesn't cover ANYTHING related to infertility, so we are 100% OOP. I STILL went to an RE because the risk of having complications from unmonitored Clomid is far greater than spending a little extra money on monitoring appointments.

The ladies here have given you great advice. You should take it. You could seriously destroy your reproductive system taking Clomid unmonitored.

kleigh926

To answer your question, I took Clomid days 3-7 and ovulated on day 15. I got pregnant that cycle, but if I hadn't, my cycle would have been WAY shorter than normal because I ovulated way sooner than I normally do (unmedicated, I usually O on CD 30 or after, or not at all). However, everyone else's experiences with Clomid mean nothing for your own experience, so what happened to other people really doesn't matter. You might O early, late, or not at all with Clomid.

The ladies already addressed the testing/monitoring part, but I'll throw in my 2 cents... your family doctor should not be prescribing a fertility drug. You need testing before you even take Clomid. What if your husband's sperm are problematic? Then you're totally wasting those cycles taking a fertility drug. Not to mention that a lot of RE's won't even prescribe Clomid at all more than 6 cycles. Why would you want to risk that?

Plus, a lot of us that have health insurance have no infertility coverage, so it's all out of pocket for us too. That's not an excuse to risk your health and waste cycles.