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Anyone do Clomid with HCG injection?

pbj2009pbj2009
in Infertility

We finally met with a RE today to discuss our options.  Our workup has been normal and I'm ovulating every month.  She suggested 1-2 cycles of monitoring with bloodwork/ultrasound and using clomid with the hcg injection.  Has anyone had experience with this for unexplained infertility?  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed about the options and what the right step would be.  She said that on our own, our success rate with unexplained infertility is prob around 1-2% with each cycle, with clomid and hcg, the success rate is around 5-6% and with clomid +IUI it would jump to 8-10% per cycle. 

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Re: Anyone do Clomid with HCG injection?

  • EastCoastGirl*EastCoastGirl* member

    We are unexplained also, and I did Clomid with an Ovidrel injection my first medicated cycle.  It wasn't bad.  They usually use Clomid as a first step because it's cheap and can cause a stronger ovulation.

    The only side effect I had from Clomid was hot flashes, and the injection was tiny and pretty painless. 

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  • pbj2009pbj2009
    Thanks EastCoast Girl! Did you have to inject yourself, did your H do it or was it done at the doctors office?  I'm just trying to understand the rationale of clomid and triggering when I know i'm ovulating...
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  • MBandBudMBandBud member
    We are Dx unexplained and did Clomid on it's own for a few months, and then did Clomid, HCG and IUI.  Then we did Clomid, HCG and injectibles and IUI.  Her %'s are similar to what we were told.  Clomid is to produce more follicles which hopefully contain eggs.  HCG allows you to release multiple eggs and time intercourse.  Truly it is a personal decision on how quick you move along but clomid sounds like a good start.  I would base your next steps on what you are wanting to try, which treatments you are comfortable with, and $.  I don't think you ever want to go too advanced and then wonder if something else would have worked that was less intrusive.  I know when we did IUI it was difficult for me to give up trying naturally with intercourse.  Also, be sure to engage DH in the decision making process.  I know for my DH after 2 IUI's and hearing the success of IVF he was ready to move on.  We are also older (me 38 DH 42) so that played into our decision.  GL to you and this board is great support!
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  • MBandBudMBandBud member

    imagepbj2009:
    Thanks EastCoast Girl! Did you have to inject yourself, did your H do it or was it done at the doctors office?  I'm just trying to understand the rationale of clomid and triggering when I know i'm ovulating...

     I'll chime in as well since I was ovulating regularly...clomid produces more follicles which gives you more of a chance.  Also, my RE wasn't sure that the eggs were getting down my tubes (even though my tests were clear) so the idea of having more eggs gave us a better shot.  

    FWIW, my DH did the shots.  It helped me a ton and it also got him to be engaged in the process.   

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  • EastCoastGirl*EastCoastGirl* member
    My RE's office actually required me to take a class on injections before they would let me fill the prescription.  I brought DH with me, just in case, but when she brought everything out, he wasn't really needed.  (I should also mention that I have no problem with needles).  You buy the HCG through your pharmacy and they will tell you a time / date to inject yourself at home.  It's done by pinching the stomach, and the needle is really thin and short.  At least, that was my experience with Ovidrel.
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  • pbj2009pbj2009
    Thanks ladies! I think I'd be ok giving the injections to myself.  If H had to do it, it'd be another story.  The thing we're both struggling with is giving up trying on our own.  I think we're leaning towards the clomid and hcg for the next cycle, not quite mentally prepared to move onto IUI just yet.  I'm so glad I have this board to turn to for support!
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  • sweetcaroline10sweetcaroline10

    We also are unexplained.  The RE started us with Clomid, trigger and TI.  I don't think he gave us percentages for success, but your numbers sound about right.  We did two cycles of that then moved onto Clomid & IUI.  Next step is injectibles.  Clomid is usually the first step in medication as it is inexpensive and is used to produce a stronger ovulation even if you are ovualating on your own.  I think it's a good starting point if you are comfortable with your RE's explanation & your personal thoughts on it.  Good Luck -

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  • EastCoastGirl*EastCoastGirl* member

    imageEastCoastGirl*:
    My RE's office actually required me to take a class on injections before they would let me fill the prescription.  I brought DH with me, just in case, but when she brought everything out, he wasn't really needed.  (I should also mention that I have no problem with needles).  You buy the HCG through your pharmacy and they will tell you a time / date to inject yourself at home.  It's done by pinching the stomach, and the needle is really thin and short.  At least, that was my experience with Ovidrel.

    Sorry, I just reread what I wrote and need to clarify.  The RE made it sound like the HCG was a subcutaneous injection that would have to be done in my back with help, which is why I brought DH.  But then when I actually went to the class and she brought out the tiny needle and said it went in the stomach, he really didn't need to help with it, although it was nice to have him there for support.  I didn't mean to imply that I don't need DH.  :-)

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  • MrsP71506MrsP71506

    We are unexplained as well and our first treatment was clomid and ovidrel.  It will just give you a stronger ovulation if you already ovulate on your own.

     

    Good luck!! 

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  • ladychicagoladychicago member

    we're slight MFI, but his counts have been totally normal at times, too.   so who knows what our issue really is.  

    that said, we did 5 cycles on clomid+ovidrel, 2 with TI, and 3 with IUI.   and the stats we got quoted were very similiar to what you listed above.   our odds with clomid+ovidrel+IUI were 10-15%, and on our own it would have been only 2-3%.

    good luck to you!

    Brought to you by IVF, ICSI, limited fert, and oocyte cryopreservation.
    Because we're fancy like that.

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  • jessiemills81jessiemills81

    We are also unexplained.  I am on my first "with help cycle", 50mg clomid CD3-7, FSH shot CD9 and trigger on CD11.  I am going in for the IUI tomorrow.  I am on progesterine suppositories (am and pm) during the 2ww.

    We had slightly higher percentages (25%) with this protocol, but that may be due to my age (I am 28).  On our own, 1-3%.

    best of luck to you!!

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  • albjagalbjag member

    We were unexplained.  so i had a choice of IUI or laparascopy- to check for endometriosis.   I chose a lap first- and they found stage 2 endo- i pretty much had no signs except infertility.   So they 'fixed' that (although it always comes back i think).  then we tried on our own for 5 more mos- no luck so now i am doing IUI w/ clomid and HCG trigger shot.  I have no covereage for infert treatments, however they did cover my diagnostics which is why i did the lap first b/c it wouldnt have been covered if i'd decided to do it later, say after a failed IUI. So I figured, i wanted to rule out any problems that might interfeere w/ my treatments.  and since ins. covered the lap but not the iui, i did the lap first.   I didnt want to waste any $ doing a treatment that may not work depending on what the lap found- know what i mean?

     

    Surprise BFP after 5 yrs of TTC
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  • albjagalbjag member
    imagealbjag:

    We were unexplained.  so i had a choice of IUI or laparascopy- to check for endometriosis.   I chose a lap first- and they found stage 2 endo- i pretty much had no signs except infertility.   So they 'fixed' that (although it always comes back i think).  then we tried on our own for 5 more mos- no luck so now i am doing IUI w/ clomid and HCG trigger shot.  I have no covereage for infert treatments, however they did cover my diagnostics which is why i did the lap first b/c it wouldnt have been covered if i'd decided to do it later, say after a failed IUI. So I figured, i wanted to rule out any problems that might interfeere w/ my treatments.  and since ins. covered the lap but not the iui, i did the lap first.   I didnt want to waste any $ doing a treatment that may not work depending on what the lap found- know what i mean?

     

    I will say I only picked lap b/c my insurance covered it, otherwise there's no way i would have gone that route.   

    Surprise BFP after 5 yrs of TTC
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