Nervous to take Clomid

S&H&C

Hello. This is my first post here - thanks for reading. 

My husband and I have been TTC on and off since July via donor sperm IUI. (He is a childhood cancer survivor and is infertile.) My tests look good, though I do have unilateral  hydrosalpinx (only have one functioning Fallopian tube). We just had our 5th unsuccessful IUI round. 

My doctor prescribed 50mg Clomid but I'm nervous to take it. I have had the good fortune to be very healthy in my life (which I am so thankful for) and haven't taken many medications. I've never even taken birth control due to worry of blood clot issues in the family.
Of course I read all about the side effects and have gotten myself all worked up - maybe for nothing, as I've read that lots of women take it. If I knew 100% that it would work, I'd take it in a heartbeat. 

Has anyone out there had experience with IUI and Clomid only? 

I have been having a hard time finding information/stories from women with my particular situation and I feel a bit lost.
Thanks for your time.

Starlight811

I have been through 1 cycle of IUI on 100mg of clomid ended in bfn and currently taking same medication for IUI #2. Only side effects I have had was some bloating and occasional moodiness I don't take any other supplements. everyones body will respond differently so you just won't know until you start your meds. Goodluck !

Angelic789

Hi. I'm sorry we aren't in the same boat. Have nothing in common with fallopian tubes functioning or IUI. This may sound inappropriate to you. But I'm writing it to you just in case it supports you somehow. Sometimes it's important to know you're not alone on this path.
In biotexcom where we've passed the DE ivf procedure I've made several acquaintances. Women were put on Clomid and felt ok about it. I mean they took it as for granted, as a part of the whole treatment. I haven't heard also them complaining about side effects or whatever. Maybe I have no right to write about non-experienced things but this is how the things were going to others.
We still have good conversations from time to time as I'm already at home waiting peacefully for the due day. But if there is something I could ask them as for their impressions of Clomid I'll do it with pleasure for you.
I want so much all women struggling get lots of baby dust one day!
Probably you shouldn't worry that much about the medication.. Try to consult another expert on the point. The coincidence of their thoughts will definitely bring you at ease.
Wish you good luck xx 

BrightenMySky

I have done 3 Clomid IUI cycles.  My cycles also used a trigger shot 36 hrs before the IUI to carefully time ovulation, which I think is fairly common to use in combination with the Clomid for IUI (and my RE forgot to mention the shot until the first day of my first IUI cycle, but it was no biggie).  

Everyone reacts differently to Clomid, and you won't know until you're on it.  I was fortunate to react well--no uterine lining thinning, producing a few follicles each cycle that were likely to have matured based on size and bw--but my RE was very clear that if things did not go well, it was not a big deal, we would just try something else.  And I was being monitored with ultrasounds and bw to make sure things were going ok, in addition to my telling the RE if I had side effects.  I used Clomid to increase the odds that a healthy sperm would connect with an egg by increasing the number of available eggs (we have a MFI issue).  

It seems like maybe in your case the Clomid could increase the chances that you would ovulate on the side where your functioning tube is?  I know it's a really big step--I could not believe what I was doing when I first took the meds--but it's a strange and unpredictable journey we are all on.  One suggestion I do have is to get yourself a nice chocolate bar for after you take the pills, I always wanted a little reward and thought the pills tasted bitter.

AandDM2014

I don't share your particular situation, I have PCOS. I did 6 rounds of Clomid only, sometimes with a trigger shot. I had a few side effects, the worst one being the hot flashes. Dang did I think I was going to just melt! Like wearing-shorts-and-a-tshirt-in-the-middle-of-winter-and-still-being-warm hot! I was also much grouchier than usual, especially during stressful situations. I responded well every time. You won't know your response until you actually take it. I believe I did one or two rounds at 100 mg and the rest at 150 mg.

S&H&C

Thank you all for your responses. 

Starlight811 Thank you for your notes on your actual experience. I feel better hearing about others' side effects since the ones on the bottle are so extensive! 

Angelic789 Congratulations on your impending due date. And thank you for mentioning the women you know who think taking the Clomid was not a big deal. That's how I want to think of it too.

BrightenMySky
I didn't even know about the trigger shot until I read about them here in the past couple of weeks. My doctor didn't mention them at all and I plan on inquiring about the ultrasound for follicles too. I had the US during my initial tests but she hasn't ordered one prior to any of my actual IUIs. And big thanks for the tip about having some chocolate handy!

AandDM2014 Thanks for the note about the grumpiness. I already get so sleepy/sad/grumpy with PMS that I am imagining the Clomid will make me a monster. HA! It's good for me to be prepared. And the hot flashes...it's just getting very cold where I am - glad it's not summer!

oxinfree

You're probably not going to find bfp stories here unless someone is here with SI, since most of us have never been pregnant, just FYI. Don't let that discourage you though as many women ARE successful with it.

I too don't like taking medications. I had to let that all go with our infertility journey though.
It is what it is. I mean I don't even take tylenol when I have a headache. But for this, I'll do just about anything it takes.

Clomid isn't so bad. Some night sweats, some mood swings, but I experienced none of the "scary" side effects.
I was fine.

Best of luck to you on this journey!