Clomid first round advice ...

kluda21

have been ttc for about 2 years now. Finally going to try first round of clomid. Any advice from anyone ?

cattlebride

Are you seeing a re? If not, that's my advice f is to get a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist.

jnnfrrose6

Same as above. If you're taking under the care of an RE, then proceed as they have directed. If an OB gave it to you, then stop. Do not take it and seek out an RE who,will properly monitor you. Clomid is a serious drug with limited uses in a lifetime and serious possible side effects and complications. Only an RE can properly monitor you to avoid problems.

chitownparent

My OB gave me clomid and I trust her 100%.  She is a teaching doctor at a very prestigious medical school.  She is taking it very seriously.  I had to go in for several blood tests and an ultrasound.  I had only been TTC for 1 year.  I did get pregnant after the first round...no word yet on whether its multiples.  I had some serious side effects while taking the medication one day and I don't know if I would do it again if this pregnancy doesn't carry to term.  In any event, as long as you are actually monitored throughout the process, I see no reason you need to be seeing an R.E.  Although I'm no doctor.

cattlebride

chitownparent said:

My OB gave me clomid and I trust her 100%.  She is a teaching doctor at a very prestigious medical school.  She is taking it very seriously.  I had to go in for several blood tests and an ultrasound.  I had only been TTC for 1 year.  I did get pregnant after the first round...no word yet on whether its multiples.  I had some serious side effects while taking the medication one day and I don't know if I would do it again if this pregnancy doesn't carry to term.  In any event, as long as you are actually monitored throughout the process, I see no reason you need to be seeing an R.E.  Although I'm no doctor.

@TheBorg7of9 had some great advice on this. Just from what I've read on here it sounds like multiple blood tests, ultrasounds and monitoring needs to be done at specific days. This will help prevent the need for selective abortion. Also there needs to be tests like a seman analysis and the fallopiab tubes need looked at to make sure they are open. If either of these things come back with problems no amount of clomid will help and it has a life time of only 6 uses. Just make sure that you are well informed as this can be a potentially harmful drug without proper testing and monitoring.

TheBorg7of9

Ok. Hello and welcome. I have been on clomid myself and have read many stories on this board for 6 years from women on clomid.

First of all before you take clomid, you need to make sure you don't have any other problems that would make the clomid moot. That is because clomid has a lifetime max of 6 cycles. After that some doctors won't give more clomid because of a potential concern about cancer. Although that link has not been proven. Also, if it doesn't work after 6 cycles, it's probably not going to work. The two most important tests are a semen analysis for your husband and an hsg to make sure your tubes are open.

For each and every cycle you are on clomid, you need Bloodwork and vaginal ultrasounds on cycle day 3 and then starting mid cycle about every other day until you ovulate. So you'll need to go in at least 2-3 times per cycle for Bloodwork and ultrasounds. Opks are not reliable when you are on clomid. The tests on cycle day 3 are to measure your hormones, check for pregnancy (clomid is not good if pregnabt) and check for cysts (clomid causes cysts. Also, if you start a cycle with a cyst and take more clomid, the cyst may grow exponentially and cause you to lose an ovary. I have seen some women on this site end up in the ER because they weren't monitored.)

The ultrasounds also check if you are overresponding or underresponding. If you overrespond (like I did) you have to decide whether to cancel the cycle or risk high order multiples and a second trimester selective abortion. If you underrespond, you doc may change meds for next time.

The ultrasounds also check your uterine lining, because clomid might cause your uterine lining to be too thin and prevent pregnancy.

Another side effect is that clomid may dry up your cervical mucus, thereby decreasing your chances of pregnancy. That's why reproductive endocrinologists usually pair clomid with an intrauterine insemination.

Finally, I would very highly recommend you see a reproductive endocrinologist for infertility and not an OB. REs are the experts here, not OBs and they do the proper tests and monitoring as a matter of course.
I'm sure your OB is awesome, but she just does not have the training and education o'd an RE, even if she "specializes" in infertility.

TheBorg7of9

chitownparent said:

My OB gave me clomid and I trust her 100%.  She is a teaching doctor at a very prestigious medical school.  She is taking it very seriously.  I had to go in for several blood tests and an ultrasound.  I had only been TTC for 1 year.  I did get pregnant after the first round...no word yet on whether its multiples.  I had some serious side effects while taking the medication one day and I don't know if I would do it again if this pregnancy doesn't carry to term.  In any event, as long as you are actually monitored throughout the process, I see no reason you need to be seeing an R.E.  Although I'm no doctor.

It sounds like you were not properly monitored. Did you get ultrasounds mid cycle to see how many follicles you had before ovulating? Did your doctor discuss the risk of multiples with you. Before I took Clomid, my RE made me sign paperwork indicating I understood the risk of multiples and that a selective reduction (abortion) may be recommended in the second trimester if I did end up with multiples. I did cancel my first clomid cycle because I had four mature follicles and didn't like the risk.

bsckgb7

PocketFullofShells said:

OP, you must not be all that concerned about getting advice seeing as how you haven't been back to check responses at all.....

Actually OP came back a few times and those posts are gone now?!?!?!

Edited to add : Nevermind that was another newb taking Clomid from an OB (the other one actually stuck around)