How many rounds of clomid?

jen4ny · October 2014

I am curious how many rounds of clomid you have done if you used it at all? I will be talking to the RE about our 3rd IUI cycle today since I got BFN yesterday on a HPT after I started spotting. This would be my 5th round of clomid though. I have been reading different info about clomid- some things say up to six cycles is recommended. Others say only 3-4. This past cycle my lining was a little thinner than the first IUI- they said it was still okay but I am wondering if the clomid is going to continue thinning it. So I am just wondering if it is time to switch up the meds.

pettycrocker · October 2014

I did so many rounds of Clomid, I honestly can not even tell you the exact number. I want to say AT LEAST 10, *but* I've been very unconventional in my treatments. I did Clomid / TI for prob 6 consecutive cycles (which is a nightmare, because the shit definitely builds up in your system) then I did Clomid / IUI, THEN I did IVF a couple times, then I did MORE Clomid IUI lol.. I have heard they like to put a limit on the amount of Clomid cycles you do, but I was under the impression that it's more because of that build up effect? Anyway, there are other drugs you can try that are very comparable. Femara maybe? Letrozole? I do not have experience with either of these but I know they come up on the board pretty frequently as alternatives to Clomid. It could potentially thin your lining, yes. Is there a reason your Dr hasn't suggested trying one of the other comparable drugs?

Good luck

sailorgal · October 2014

Ask about letrozole(femara). I definitely responded very differently to both though both successful in that they did what they were supposed to do.

Just a head's up that letrozole for fertility is an off-label use which may deter some doctors (and patients).

pettycrocker · October 2014

I didn't know they were the same thing, that is good to know

) I thought it was like Gonal-f vs Follistim, they do the same thing, but they're different drugs.

wells2010 · October 2014

Have read that 6 cycles is the max. I can't tell you where, but I remember reading that when I first took clomid a few years ago. I asked my RE about that, and he said that all drugs have risks, but they don't limit the number of cycles on clomid. I've done 6 cycles on it myself and it's only worked once (DD). Not sure if I O'd the other times, since I wasn't fully monitored.

My RE wanted to continue clomid with a trigger shot (I haven't done a trigger before), but I told him about all of the problems I've been having... trouble sleeping, hot flashes, anxiety/palpitations. I agree that I think it builds up in your system. After taking it all summer, I was a mess. We are trying Femara instead for my next cycle, probably with a trigger shot too. There's FSH injects or a combo that you can do too, but if you are on the younger side and have a good ovarian reserve, they probably won't do that unless you fail at everything else first due to the higher risk of multiples.

I haven't taken it since August and I am just now starting to feel more normal. Luckily, my lining is fine and my cyst didn't really grow at all. I hate clomid! We just finished our testing and I hopefully can start a medicated cycle or IUI this month. I just finished taking provera and am waiting for AF...

Davie813 · October 2014

I skipped clomid altogether and started with injects because I'm old. However, my RE is willing to prescribe it for up to six cycles. She recommends moving on to something else after three, though, because she says if it's going to work, it's probably going to do so in within the first three cycles. That seems to be her feeling about every new level of intervention, though, which is why we're moving me on to IVF if this upcoming IUI doesn't work.

sailorgal · October 2014

My RE doesn't seem to like Clomid. We did one round and he just said that statistically there are better success rates in his clinic with letrozole plus the side effects are usually far more mild. I think also Clomid has a higher multiples rate. But that's just all my clinic's preferences. Most I have read is as above with max 6 cycles.

Bananappeal145 · October 2014

I'm not sure about how many cycles they will let you do but my RE did mention something about that it can thin your lining and is cumulative. So the more you take the more likely it is to thin your lining. I did not respond as well to Femara.
So sorry about your BFN. I know that's never easy

fuzzbumble · October 2014

We did four cycles. By the end, I was a total mess. So emotional, crazy anxiety and heart palpitations that sent me to the ER. I do not like clomid.

I came to the re after the clomid, and he switched to letrozole. He said since I've done four he wants to switch it up.

pdxveg · October 2014

I did 3 cycles of Clomid and then switched to Femara when I started seeing an RE. I was never told about a max number of Clomid cycles by my ob, but I have read that there are limits. However, I really preferred Femara to Clomid. Clomid made me crazy, dried up my cm, and I had really painful ovulation. I haven't had any noticeable side effects from Femara.

Maybe it's worth asking about.

BDevereaux · October 2014

Unfortunately, I took the foolish route and did 4 rounds of Clomid through my ob/gyn. They did monitor my cycles, but obviously, nothing ever came if it. I hated the Clomid. The hot flashes I could handle, but I constantly felt like I was in a fog. I was happy that when I did start seeing the RE, she had me try Femara instead. I've done that for three cycles now, and thankfully, no side-effects to speak of.

Steph1673 · October 2014

potatocastillo said:

I didn't know they were the same thing, that is good to know ) I thought it was like Gonal-f vs Follistim, they do the same thing, but they're different drugs.

Letrozole is generic Femara ;-) How in the world did I know anything about IF that you didn't... lol.

OP I have not done Clomid, but I was told that Letrozole has less side effects.

jen4ny · October 2014

Thank you ladies. I am glad to hear that others have felt that clomid's side effects get worse with each cycle. It has made me so moody and it is just getting worse!

I spoke with the RE today and he is going to switch to femara with follistim (higher dose than last month) and a trigger for this next IUI. He originally said they like to do 3 monitored cycles of clomid before switching to something else. But since I did two unmonitored cycles with my OB he has decided it is enough and said it is time to switch.

BillyMollyEmmy · October 2014

I did four rounds and they cancelled my fifth and sixth.

CeCe8579 · October 2014

My RE will do 6 consecutive Clomid cycles. I had 4 with my DD, I think. It may have been more. That's been so long ago. Then last year this time I did two Clomid cycles and my RE would've done 4 more if we hadn't discovered we also deal with MFI.

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