Prescribed Clomid

MrsG31613

Hi all, new to the boards. Have been TTC since January, had IUD removed, did not get cycle while implanted for 3 yrs. In July after still no cycle, blood work and cysts on the ultrasound they confirmed the PCOS diagnosis. They prescribed clomid but since I still have not had a cycle I am not really sure what I am supposed to do with it... Just continue to wait until I get a cycle to start? I know I should just call and ask but feel kind of stupid to have left my appointment not having all the information I needed (to be honest I left in a hurry after balling in my exam room, poor valet guy knew to get my car ASAP!)

I have been trying to lose weight in hopes that will help get my cycle, and am down 14lbs last month... 15 more to go to have a healthy BMI. But I have never had a normal cycle even when I was on the lower end of the BMI scale. I have gone starch free, only get carbs from fruits and veggies, increased my water, cut caffeine to one cup of coffee a day. Have always exercised but increased to 3 miles a day in addition to my other exercise.

Okay now that I have listed all the background info. Any suggestions in what to do? Continue to wait it out till I get my cycle? Or call about a med to kick start my cycle? Anyone have experience with that!

Thanks for reading...

ronniesgirl1981

Are you working with an RE or an OB/Gyn?

MrsG31613

RE and OBGYN, it's one office so they coordinate care

AnnaClaire256

Welcome to 3T! I would assume that if you're working with an RE they plan to monitor you. I would DEFINITELY call and figure out your exact protocol. They really should've gone over it with you in detail. I have left the dr on many occasions and thought, "dang it! I meant to ask {fill question in here}" Don't be afraid...follow up, take control, advocate for yourself. If the dr tells you that you don't need to be monitored on clomid...find a new doctor.

Hollowvic

Welcome. Don't ever feel stupid about asking questions. I would just recommend listening to the others advice and make sure you get all the proper testing and monitoring. Good luck.

WillingAndAble

Hi MrsG31613! I'm not suspcious about anything you've said. Doctors appointments can be so overwhelming sometimes. Try to bring someone with you next time if you think you might not remember all you are told. Or bring a notebook and take down notes. I do that! As for when to start clomid, I'm not a doctor but I think its supposed to be done sometime at the begining of your cycle. But I don't have PCOS so clearly I don't really know what you should do. But for sure call your doctor's office tomorrow morning. Don't feel stupid about calling. Best of luck! Report back here if you don't mind sharing once you find out. I'm curious what the doctor says. 

BunnyBerry

@iputketchuponketchup is right on the money.

My first thought after reading your post was, "I hope they gave her a Provera prescription!" 

The second thought was, "I hope they did the full testing before jumping in to Clomid."

For 6 months you had no period - taking ovarian stimulation drugs at this point doesn't make any sense. The next step is Provera, which will cause your period to arrive. Then there are tests which must be done on certain days of the cycle - CD2-4 for bloodwork, CD6-12 for HSG to make sure your tubes are clear (it is poor medical practice to prescribe Clomid, a strong hormone which can have detrimental effects on your health and is limited to 6 months of use, without knowing if sperm can reach egg anway).

And an SA for your partner is crucial as well, to see if you're in the range where timed intercourse or IUI has a chance of working. It's better to get the SA earlier than later, because sperm take like forever to develop (70-90 days) so any treatment for the man will take at least 3 months to start having an effect.

Some OBGYNs take a devil-may-care attitude and assume that if anovulation is present, that must be the one and only cause of IF, so just prescribe Clomid. However, at least 10% of couples with IF have IF factors in both partners, and I don't have stats on how many of the 90% individual partners have multiplle causes of IF. For example, my husband had an SA years ago, and we thought that was the only issue given that I always ovulated according to temping and OPKs, so we figured a few years with 1-3%/month chances were fine for us.

Well, now we found out that in addition to MH's low counts, motility, and morphology, I had a mostly closed cervix, adhesions between my bowel and ovary, endometriosis, and elevated prolactin, all of which can cause infertiity. We had to wait close to 3 months for my surgery and for my husband's meds to take effect, and believe me I wish we had started testing earlier! 

I recommend that you request full testing and a consult with the RE to personally look over your results before accepting a treatment protocol. From our experience on the boards, that is the safest and most efficient way to get pregnant.

amus112904

The doctor didn't give you provera to jump start your period? I haven't been able to get a period on my own my doctor prescribed provera each of the three cycles of clomid