Thoughts on clomid for unexplained infertility

[Anonymous]

We've been trying for a while, HSG clear, DH is fine. We actually got pregnant a while ago, but miscarried. My dr said if I don't get pregnant soon, we'll try clomid. I'm worried though because I've heard mixed things - that clomid really only helps for people who aren't ovulating or ovulating regularly. I am ovulating regularly. I don't want to go through all of the clomid side effects (and increase the risk of multiples!) if it will really give no real increase in chances. Does anyone have advice?

[Anonymous]

Are you seeing an RE or an obgyn? DH and I have unexplained infertility (I am 32) and are doing a few rounds of clomid with IUI. We started with 50mg of clomid and I had no side effects. One study (I think it was published in BMJ) showed no benefit for clomid or IUI on their own when compared to just having sex at the right time each month for couples with unexplained infertility, but the study did not test the IUI combined with clomid. I'd recommend discussing your concerns about clomid with your MD (are you worried about the side effects - hot flashes, etc - or the possible cancer risk found in a few studies?). After talking it through with my RE I decided to try a few rounds of IUI with clomid since he said that would give us about a 20-25% chance of getting pregnant (over 3-4 cycles) and avoiding IVF with all its expense and possible complications. As for risk of multiples, if you do IUI they'll tell you how many eggs you have, so you can decide to skip the IUI if you have more eggs than you are comfortable with. My first cycle I had one egg and my second cycle I had two eggs. Hope this helps a bit - good luck to you!!!

[Anonymous]

I would not worry about the side effects of Clomid. I have taken Clomid for about 4 months (50mg at first and then 100mg) and have had absolutely no side effects, I did not even feel it. I am pregnant now and it's a singleton. There is a low risk of multiples with Clomid. Clomid only increases your chances of having twins at around 10% but it does not put you at risk of having more than twins (there have been very rare cases of triplets reported, but nothing beyond triplets and triplets are so rare it's really not something you should worry about). I would not be scared of taking Clomid if I were you.

[Anonymous]

I would NOT take Clomid working with an OB - you need to be tested by an RE to see if anything else is at issue, and you need to be monitored closely when taking Clomid. Clomid thins your uterine lining, so you need to be monitored for that and given estrogen if there is a problem. Plus, after about 3-4 months, you really need to stop using the Clomid because your lining may become too thin to support a pregnancy. Clomid also can affect progesterone levels, so if you get pregnant but aren't on progestertone or having your levels monitored then you can miscarry. This happened to a friend of mine, who wasted about 10 months doing unmonitored Clomid. Finally, if you respond too well, you could end up with high order multiples.

[Anonymous]

def echo the PPs.... go see and RE.

(BTW - i have PCO, so not ovulating at all. 1st round of clomid at 50 NO folicles, 2nd month of clomind at 100, THREE folicles... i'm pg now, 9 weeks, with ONE! had NO issues taking clomid in terms of side effects, etc.)

[Anonymous]

I would NEVER take Clomid under an OB's care in your situation. Clomid can actually make things worse (dries up cervical fluid). And my RE in NYC echoed what you have heard: that Clomid is basically good only for women who are young and not ovulating. Other issues are better addressed via injectible medications, which can be more carefully adjusted.

Also, I would suggest acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine in your situation. Very high success rates with "unexplained" infertility not due to maternal age.

[Anonymous]

I did an IUI with clomid at age 38 and had three follicles. One became DS We had some kind of cervical fluid issue I think--all of DH's sperm were dead a day after being injected. But that could have been due to timing, it's hard to say. In any event, clomid + IUI is definitely worth trying!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did an IUI with clomid at age 38 and had three follicles. One became DS We had some kind of cervical fluid issue I think--all of DH's sperm were dead a day after being injected. But that could have been due to timing, it's hard to say. In any event, clomid + IUI is definitely worth trying!

PP here. Forgot to mention that I was ovulating regularly.

[Anonymous]

I worry about clomid's possible ties to cancer in a recent study (as mentioned by a PP). I had unexplained IF and took way too much clomid under a well-meaning OB's care. It was a huge waste of time and money, and I had some unpleasant side effects.

I agree with all the PPs to go to an RE.

I wasted a lot of time on charting and clomid. Then after going to Shady Grove, I was pregnant in just several months. Injectibles with IUIs are way more effective than clomid - I actually remember both my OB and Shady Grove giving me charts on the odds of each type of drug/procedure.

Anyhow, I always write this, but here I go again: visit resolve.org and join the TTC bulletin boards there. You will get the best advice in the world by thousands of women who are TTC or who are pregnancy after IF.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP about using clomid under the direction of a fertility doctor, NOT AN OB. I used clomid with an OB and had I not been in tune with my body I would have just assumed the bleeding I had was my period and started another round of clomid. Turns out I was pregnant, but it was ectopic. My OB missed this too.

See a fertility doc who will do u/s to check # of follicles, etc. Last thing you want is to get pregnant with octuplets.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I so appreciate your responses. They all converge on one clear piece of advice, which is see the RE before going on clomid. That is helpful, because it was my OB who was going to just stick me on clomid. I will follow this advice and see an RE. Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Op, how was the test your DH went through? How was it performed? How many days did they tell him to abstain of intercourse/masturbation prior to providing a sample?

I am asking this because I was diagnosed with unexplained IF for almost 4 years (first with OB and then with RE) because they couldn't find anything wrong with me (was ovulating normally, tubes clear, no scarrings, etc.) and DH had normal sperm count. The did 3 tests during all those years and in all 3 he was oriented to abstain of intercourse for "no less than 2 days and no more than 3 days".

Well, for our first IUI we were oriented to have "timmed intercourse" on the Trigger night and than he had to provide a sample 36hrs later for the IUI itself. His sample was terrible and the IUI failed of course.

Second IUI the doc. told us to skip the timmed intercourse and actually abstain for 4 days prior of IUI - his sample was normal again and it worked.

Anyway, maybe your DH just need more time to "restock"? If you know exactly when you ovulate (OPK/fertility monitor) you can try to have sex only on ovulation day (abstaining for 3/4 days prior)?

Good luck.

No, I would not use clomid with an OB.

[Anonymous]

I am on Chlomid took it with last daughter this is first time this round! Ultrasound showed I have two eggs on right and one on left! Is that good I am wanting twins

[Anonymous]

I started clomid with my OB for 3 months. 1st month at 50mg, 2nd at 100 mg, and the third at 150mg. All of these cycles I was not monitored at all by my OB. So when all 3 cycles failed I moved on to an RE. We did our 1st IUI +clomid at 50mg. During the monitoring they realized that my lining was at next to nothing. It was thinned out by the clomid. So the next cycle they cut the clomid down to 25mg + IUI. Still at 25 mg my lining was no better. So yet another failed IUI cycle. When they took me off of clomid the very next cycle my lining was perfectly normal. It was nice and thick. This made me pretty angry at my OB....there are several risks with clomid yet he prescribed it to me as if it were like candy. I would highly recommend getting monitored if you will be on clomid.

I am still trying to get KU but I blame the clomid for 5 straight months of failed cycles....