Clomid Failure

WatchPot

Talk to me about clomid and TI.  If it didn't work for you, how many times did you try it before deciding it didn't work? 

What did you do next?  Femera? IUI?  IVF?

Thanks ladies.

doublem

50 mg did nothing for me and made me feel like crap, so I took a break to see if I might have a normal cycle on my own.  Then 3 months later I ovulated on 100 mg.  However, I did start thyroid meds inbetween there, and that might have actually done the trick more than the Clomid - I will never know.

I just posted this on the IF thread, but one of my friends who is a nurse said that Femara is actually a better choice than Clomid because it has fewer side effects and often works just as well or better.

theresab

We did the clomid challenge with TI, then 1 clomid IUI - both failed.  Femera + IUI did the trick for us.  (I also started accupunture after the 1st IUI too. and continued till 12 weeks.)

Our RE said no more than 3 clomid cycles - if it was gonna work, it would and could be detrimental after that (thin lining and other side effects)

sommerrayne

Clomid is tricky - too low and you won't/don't respond - too HIGH and you don't/might not respond....its finding the sweet spot but I wouldn't (just my experience) "move on" after trying 1 dose 1 time. I'd up and try again by at least 50mg each time.

sommerrayne

Oh and some docs say "no more than ___ cycles" but I've been on 15 and am just fine. There's very little risk associated with it (more long term health risk associated with PCOS, which is what I have, than with Clomid).

Mrs.Kiltlifter

I have taken both Clomid and Femara. Clomid 50mg really didn't do too much in the way of ovulating. Clomid 100mg I tried for 2 cycles. Then Clomid 150mg. That made me nuts and I responded a bit too well. Since I had 4 cycles in I moved to Femara. Less follicles, less chance of multiples none of the Clomid crazies. I got a BFP and m/c. Took some cycles off. Came back after 4 months took Femara and didn't respond. Went back to Clomid.

I took Clomid/Femara for 9 cycles. 2 were poor response and cancelled and the other the Clomid Challenge. After the poor response, actually 0 response, we made the decision to move to injectibles. And if that didn't work then IVF. But we got lucky with the injectibles.

The amount of cycles depends on you. The RE can push IVF all they want but you get to decide your treatment.

Blasianlove

I have done two rounds of Clomid with TI, 100 mgs each. No response, I have not ovulated on my own for 15 months. My RE said injectables may be best for me, I have an appointment to go over the next step this Monday. If you want I can get back to you.

WatchPot

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful.  We've done 2 rounds of clomid and are now interviewing RE's again.  Someone today said, since clomid doesn't work, why not move on to IUI.  Not sure how/when to determine clomid "didn't work".  Your input is very valuable to me, thanks!

MrsH_08

WatchPot:

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful.  We've done 2 rounds of clomid and are now interviewing RE's again.  Someone today said, since clomid doesn't work, why not move on to IUI.  Not sure how/when to determine clomid "didn't work".  Your input is very valuable to me, thanks!

That sounds weird to say you should move to IUI since Clomid didn't work.  I'm assuming they are referring to an IUI that does not involve Clomid, then.

We did the Clomid Challenge (no TI b/c of polyp discovery/surgery), 3 Clomid IUI's, and 2 more cycles of Clomid + TI.  I do respond to the Clomid, but not well enough.  It only produced 1 follicle for me, but we did have 2 follicles in one cycle.  I didn't have much problem with Clomid s/e except for an intense need for chocolate, or my mood went downhill fast. 

The advantage of Clomid, for me, was that it made me ovulate way earlier (about 9 days earlier).  But only producing 1-2 follicles wasn't enough, so I needed injectables.  (And, obviously, we opted to move to IVF since each step is monitored by the RE's.)

Blasianlove

MrsH_08:

WatchPot:

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful.  We've done 2 rounds of clomid and are now interviewing RE's again.  Someone today said, since clomid doesn't work, why not move on to IUI.  Not sure how/when to determine clomid "didn't work".  Your input is very valuable to me, thanks!

That sounds weird to say you should move to IUI since Clomid didn't work.  I'm assuming they are referring to an IUI that does not involve Clomid, then.

We did the Clomid Challenge (no TI b/c of polyp discovery/surgery), 3 Clomid IUI's, and 2 more cycles of Clomid + TI.  I do respond to the Clomid, but not well enough.  It only produced 1 follicle for me, but we did have 2 follicles in one cycle.  I didn't have much problem with Clomid s/e except for an intense need for chocolate, or my mood went downhill fast. 

The advantage of Clomid, for me, was that it made me ovulate way earlier (about 9 days earlier).  But only producing 1-2 follicles wasn't enough, so I needed injectables.  (And, obviously, we opted to move to IVF since each step is monitored by the RE's.)

I agree with Mrs. H. That is weird they want to move onto IUIs if you don't respond to Clomid. Maybe injectables and IUI would be more suited for you. But if you are using Clomid for ovulation stimulation, IUI wouldn't be your answer. IUI is more for male IF issues or issues with hostile CM for women.

Good luck with your RE. It is better to speak to someone who specializes in that area more than a OB/GYN would.

tfarabians

Are you saying it didn't work because your not pg or because your not Oing on clomid?

I got pg my 2nd mo on clomid and 150mg and IUI, without a trigger.  Have you been going in and getting u/s to check follicles while on clomid?  I would say that if your able to O on your own that you might want to try clomid +trigger next month.  IUI is certainly a less expensive way to go and since I could O on my own my dr's felt it was the best route for me.

Seattle_JiLLn

When they say clomid didn't work what do they mean? Did you not ovulate? Are you not ovulating on your own and trying to ovulate? That's a different scenario than already ovulating on your own and using clomid to get more follicles or something.

Were you monitored on clomid? One risk of doing it too long is your lining thinning so you want to be monitored for that reason and to see how many follicles you have and make sure they're mature size when you're ovulating. If you already ovulate on your own then clomid plus TI isn't really giving you much of a boost usually. Adding a trigger and an IUI would be a not terribly expensive step up to add to your chances. But if you don't ovulate on your own and clomid actually makes you ovulate then it's like you're just now starting TTC since you weren't even getting eggs before.

So long winded answer is. It depends on what your fertility issues are.

for me we did TI with clomid for the clomid challenge test and got PG with Cooper. Dim work with Ben though. We did five or six rounds of IuI with clomid or femera. None of those worked. I moved on to IVF and got pregnant after a trigger shot after my IVF got cancelled due o a cyst.

WatchPot

tfarabians:

Are you saying it didn't work because your not pg or because your not Oing on clomid?

Doctors words not mine, and it is because I didn't get PG, I'm assuming.  I o on my own, but have a short LP and a weak o on right side.  "they" (the original doc) thought clomid would help with the LP and make my O more meaningful (bigger follies).  After 6 months on progesterone and 2 rounds of clomid I had some blood clotting issues so I'm off of everything for now. I think that is why they thought about going straight to IUI.  Sometimes I feel like doctors just throw things out there like spagetti on a wall and see what will stick.  I don't really like that approach so we are moving on (again).  We are starting to re-evaluate which RE to use as we got some bad vibes from the offices (2) we used before. 

I felt weird about the comment today of it "not working" so I'm glad I check with you girls, you have the same feelings I do about it not being over yet. 

Seattle_JiLLn

WatchPot:

tfarabians:

Are you saying it didn't work because your not pg or because your not Oing on clomid?

Doctors words not mine, and it is because I didn't get PG, I'm assuming.  I o on my own, but have a short LP and a weak o on right side.  "they" (the original doc) thought clomid would help with the LP and make my O more meaningful (bigger follies).  After 6 months on progesterone and 2 rounds of clomid I had some blood clotting issues so I'm off of everything for now. I think that is why they thought about going straight to IUI.  Sometimes I feel like doctors just throw things out there like spagetti on a wall and see what will stick.  I don't really like that approach so we are moving on (again).  We are starting to re-evaluate which RE to use as we got some bad vibes from the offices (2) we used before. 

I felt weird about the comment today of it "not working" so I'm glad I check with you girls, you have the same feelings I do about it not being over yet. 

These 6 months on progesterone and 2 on clomid - were they with an RE?  Were you monitored at all to see how you responded and how your progesterone was doing on the different meds? 

What other testing have you had done?  and do you know what your blood clotting disorder is?

tfarabians

You might be a good candidate for Femera, I was going to switch to that after my clomid challenge when I got pg.  I also think that a thought might be doing femera or clomid + trigger and doing IUI.  Has dh had a SA?  DH had a weak SA but then when we did IUI his numbers were good.  Just throwing thoughts at you to ask an RE when you decide on one : )

MrsH_08

Seattle_JiLLn:

We did five or six rounds of IuI with clomid or femera. None of those worked. I moved on to IVF and got pregnant after a trigger shot after my IVF got cancelled due o a cyst.

I didn't know that's how you got pg with Ben!  From previous conversations, I know you'd been doing fertility treatments.  I think I thought you got pg after an HSG, for some reason.

Seattle_JiLLn

MrsH_08:

Seattle_JiLLn:

We did five or six rounds of IuI with clomid or femera. None of those worked. I moved on to IVF and got pregnant after a trigger shot after my IVF got cancelled due o a cyst.

I didn't know that's how you got pg with Ben!  From previous conversations, I know you'd been doing fertility treatments.  I think I thought you got pg after an HSG, for some reason.

With Cooper it was the month we did an HSG and clomid challenge. With Ben it was all kinds of crazy weird.

WatchPot

tfarabians:

You might be a good candidate for Femera, I was going to switch to that after my clomid challenge when I got pg.  I also think that a thought might be doing femera or clomid + trigger and doing IUI.  Has dh had a SA?  DH had a weak SA but then when we did IUI his numbers were good.  Just throwing thoughts at you to ask an RE when you decide on one : )

We are waiting for SA results right now, so I am going to try to put this all out of my mind for now until those results are back.  Since I'm off any drugs for a few months (wasn't a clotting disorder, I just had a blood clot) we'll just take it easy and practice the old fashioned way while we wait! 

Seattle_JiLLn

WatchPot:

tfarabians:

You might be a good candidate for Femera, I was going to switch to that after my clomid challenge when I got pg.  I also think that a thought might be doing femera or clomid + trigger and doing IUI.  Has dh had a SA?  DH had a weak SA but then when we did IUI his numbers were good.  Just throwing thoughts at you to ask an RE when you decide on one : )

We are waiting for SA results right now, so I am going to try to put this all out of my mind for now until those results are back.  Since I'm off any drugs for a few months (wasn't a clotting disorder, I just had a blood clot) we'll just take it easy and practice the old fashioned way while we wait! 

Did they run tests for the blood clotting disorders then just in case?