Talk to me about Clomid

[Anonymous]

My RE finally decided to put me on Clomid after a year of having very infrequent (3 times total) ovulation after going off BC. For background, I'm in my late 20s, neither over nor underweight, don't have PCOS or any other indicators of underlying fertility problems; the infrequent ovulation is totally unexplained. I talked to my RE briefly on the phone after my bloodwork came in, so I don't know the specifics of what the treatment will be yet. Tried searching on the forums for explanations but it seems like everyone does something different. Any idea what I should expect? Did people have sideffects? I'm also fairly worried about the risk of multiples - more so higher-order multiples than just twins.

[Anonymous]

I had absolutely no side effects from Clomid (well except for a pregnancy! ). I wouldn't worry too much about multiples if you're being monitored and will have an ultrasound before insemination.

[Anonymous]

Higher order multiples is pretty rare with clomid. The chances of twins etc are higher than in the general population, but those chances are still really low. Like going from a 1% chance to a 2% chance. You still have a 98% chance of a singleton.

I had some side effects from clomid, mainly hot flashes. I got them throughout the month, so not while I was actually taking the pills, but weeks later. That surprised me. It also thinned my lining, so be sure to ask about that if you take it for more than one month.

It didn't work for me, but I was still glad I tried it. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you start with a small dose and work up, it's unlikely you need to worry that much about multiples. (Risk of 3 or more on Clomid is VERY low, so realistically we're just talking about twins anyway.) Especially in the context of irregular ovulation, I doubt the smallest dose will cause you to ovulate multiple eggs and, if it does and you're worried, you'll find that out on an u/s and can abstain that month.

[Anonymous]

I could have written your post, OP. Late 20's, no PCOS, but very rare ovulation. (I went a whole year after birth control with no period.) The RE put me on Clomid - I had to wait around 2 months for a cycle, as you start taking Clomid during your menstruation - so it was a bit of a slow start. You can take medication to induce menstruation, however, if you're keen to move forward quickly. I went on a low dose (50mg) - I had pretty bad side effects, probably because my body is not used to ovulation! Fatigue, nausea, hot flashes, etc. I also did not have the predictable ovulation pattern - I didn't ovulate 14 days after, as expected, but had to go in 4 times for bloodwork/ultrasound monitoring, and eventually ovulated on day 29. By then, my hormone levels were all great, I didn't even have to take the Ovidrel shot.

And I'm pregnant in my second trimester! It worked first time! My problem clearly is lack of ovulation. and even if clomid didn't work a predictable pattern for me, it still worked. I hope it does the same for you!!

[Anonymous]

Oh and PP from above here - agree with other PPs that if you are already not ovulating, your risk of multiples is low. Like I said, it took me well over 3 weeks for my follicles to mature enough under clomid, and in the end I only had 2 mature follicles. You'll be monitored, and see how the follicles are reacting, and can make a determination if you want to have sex or not based on multiples risk. But I think you're probably fine.

[Anonymous]

4 years ago I took clomid because I didn't get my period when I stopped birth control. I also used progesterone (at least that's what I think I remember) to "jump start" my period. While we were open to the possibility of twins, my doctor told me that without clomid about 1 in 100 births are twins and with it about 10 in 100 (i.e. The risk goes up 10x, but odds are still that you'll have just one). She told me that the likelihood of triplets is about 1/4000 without clomid and about 1/3000 with. She did not monitor me at all, I took it days 5-10, and got pregnant immediately with my daughter. I don't remember any side effects. This time around, after a year of trying to conceive, I took clomid with a different doctor (as my prior doctor retired) who did monitor me. She proscribed it atypically - days 5-12, then I went in for an ultrasound and to bring my eggs along added two more days! It was a low dose, I tried it two months, and both times felt a little dizzy from the day I stopped to the day I ovulated (4 days or so both times). I am not pregnant and now am exploring what my next steps will be.

[Anonymous]

I just picked up my prescription today to start my first round of Clomid (50 mg) followed by an IUI. I'm not thrilled about the potential side effects but perhaps I'm even more anxious that now we're really "in it". On the other hand, I'm also a little relieved that after a series of disappointments, we're finally moving forward after an unexplained infertility diagnosis. I keep telling myself that it will all be worth it but that doesn't make it any easier.

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant on my 2nd round of Clomid/IUI. Mood swings were my worst side effect but didn't start until I'd finished the prescription. Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

Risk of twins depends on age too. Younger women have twins more often. Total risk with all ages pooled is about 10%.

[Anonymous]

got pregnant with a singleton the first cycle with clomid. (miscarriage with a chromosomal abnormality, unfortunately). the only real side effects were some impressive charley horses during and the week after I took the clomid. (CD2-7). and, of course, getting pregnant. clomid moved my ovulation from ~cd20 to ~cd14, which may have helped with the getting pregnant. I was monitored and did timed intercourse; at the time of ovulation I had one good follicle and a couple smaller ones, and did not do a trigger shot.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks all - this is reassuring. Wish me luck!

[Anonymous]

Hi 18:09 here...wanted to add that my gyn commented to me that clomid works much better for getting ovulation to happen than it does to cause any improvement when one is already ovulating. In other words, it's good for the type of situation you're in. All my tests were also normal and it worked 4 years ago on first try! Also, we don't want twins this round, and my doctor has told me that IUI and injectables is the highest risk for that. I just made my first RE appointment, so we'll see what they suggest.