Np here. My DH has a crazy sperm count and vitality. When my current OB saw the results she asked “is he extremely fit?” which made me and DH laugh since he is definitely not. But I digress...

When I lived in Washington DC I went of birth control and never ovulated and (obviously) never got pregnant. My Gyn offered clomid and explained the risks of twins were 10/100 vs 1/100 without medication. We asked about 3 or more and she said that’s more like 1/4000. We were open to the possibility of twins (but no more) and I got pregnant with my older daughter that first cycle. I was not monitored.

Fast forward a few years and we’d moved. All bloodwork came back normal as did sperm count (well, that was exceptional) but we weren’t conceiving. The first gyn said “let’s try clomid” but it had made sense to me when I wasn’t ovulating - less the next time around. I did one or two cycles with her but she was terrible about explaining her logic or answering questions. I switched doctors who changed the timing and dose of clomid and monitored me. I wasn’t very responsive to it (one mature egg both cycles) and didn’t get pregnant. Because of risks (my sister took it for a few months before seeing a specialist who then required her to wait a few months because her lining was so thin) my OB didn’t want me on it longer. I eventually conceived but don’t know why (hsg, acupuncturist, luck...). We’d been trying almost 2 years with no pregnancies. My two children are my only pregnancies.

Given that you don’t want to be on it too long and there’s not a great indication that ovulation is the problem I’d be very resistant in your shoes even though I have clomid to thank for one of my daughters (and I was not aware of any ill effects).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait wait wait. Mary Kate and Ashley are fraternal? My mind is blown.

That's what they claim. But I read this really fascinating article one time about how some twins identify as fraternal when in fact they are identical. Usually it has to do with a doctor thinking that because there were 2 sacs and 2 placentas that they can't be identical. We know this isn't true anymore, but people used to get told that.

What was also interesting is that if twins identify as identical, they are almost always correct. It's the "we're fraternal" thing that is wrong.

They look so much alike it's almost impossible they are not identical. A DNA test is the only way to really know though.

Wait this isn't true? I thought fraternal twins are two eggs with two separate placentas and two separate sacs and identical twins are one egg that splits. Can identical twins have two sacs and two placentas?

11:24 - me too! I am learning a lot today. I thought I was generally smart about this stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait wait wait. Mary Kate and Ashley are fraternal? My mind is blown.

That's what they claim. But I read this really fascinating article one time about how some twins identify as fraternal when in fact they are identical. Usually it has to do with a doctor thinking that because there were 2 sacs and 2 placentas that they can't be identical. We know this isn't true anymore, but people used to get told that.

What was also interesting is that if twins identify as identical, they are almost always correct. It's the "we're fraternal" thing that is wrong.

They look so much alike it's almost impossible they are not identical. A DNA test is the only way to really know though.

Wait this isn't true? I thought fraternal twins are two eggs with two separate placentas and two separate sacs and identical twins are one egg that splits. Can identical twins have two sacs and two placentas?

This is 11:28. Here's the articles I was referring to. They even reference the Olsens.

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/twins/features/2011/o_brother_what_art_thou/part_1_russ_is_my_identical_twin_at_least_thats_what_weve_always_said_.html


http://www.slate.com/articles/life/twins/features/2011/o_brother_what_art_thou/part_2_the_zygosity_test_results_arrive.html

Anonymous wrote:Wait wait wait. Mary Kate and Ashley are fraternal? My mind is blown.

That's what they claim. But I read this really fascinating article one time about how some twins identify as fraternal when in fact they are identical. Usually it has to do with a doctor thinking that because there were 2 sacs and 2 placentas that they can't be identical. We know this isn't true anymore, but people used to get told that.

What was also interesting is that if twins identify as identical, they are almost always correct. It's the "we're fraternal" thing that is wrong.

They look so much alike it's almost impossible they are not identical. A DNA test is the only way to really know though.

Wait wait wait. Mary Kate and Ashley are fraternal? My mind is blown.

Anonymous wrote:Your DH can get tested again pretty much right away (you don't really need much time in between) and can do it in the office so you don't end up with those issues. Not sure who you went to the first time, but surprised they would do the test knowing that the results would be unreliable (unless you didn't mention that). SGF has a good urologist as part of their practice.

I don't think it's worth taking clomid if you don't have an actual reason to. With the current info, it seems either risky for multiples or pointless, with just risk of the potential side effects from the drug. Both negative scenarios. If he truly has no viable sperm, or even extremely few, clomid isn't the answer (although it can help men's sperm count, so maybe part of the solution for DH) - you would probably want to do IVF with ICSI for the best shot.

Throwing crap at the wall isn't really a great place to start from - and hopefully you never get to the point that it seems like the only strategy left!

OP here - hahha I like this!

Yes I know I am pretty hesitant to actually do clomid given all the responses here and was just surprised my OB said she would give it to me willy nilly with no monitoring.

I don't think DH truly has no viable sperm. I had a positive pregnancy test in July and another one in August that bot unfortunately ended in chemicals. But something got up there and managed to fertilize an egg even if it didn't result in a healthy pregnancy!

Your DH can get tested again pretty much right away (you don't really need much time in between) and can do it in the office so you don't end up with those issues. Not sure who you went to the first time, but surprised they would do the test knowing that the results would be unreliable (unless you didn't mention that). SGF has a good urologist as part of their practice.

I don't think it's worth taking clomid if you don't have an actual reason to. With the current info, it seems either risky for multiples or pointless, with just risk of the potential side effects from the drug. Both negative scenarios. If he truly has no viable sperm, or even extremely few, clomid isn't the answer (although it can help men's sperm count, so maybe part of the solution for DH) - you would probably want to do IVF with ICSI for the best shot.

Throwing crap at the wall isn't really a great place to start from - and hopefully you never get to the point that it seems like the only strategy left!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's worth it. Especially if you don't have ovulation issues. Clomid can also mess with your lining, making it difficult for the embryo to implant.

And can cause cysts. DW went rogue during an IUI cycle at Shady Grove (unmonitored) and got her OB to prescribe clomid. SG found out and they got PISSED because it was a liability issue (which makes sense, and we didn't quite get it at the time). Cycle didn't work and she developed a cyst that took a few months to resolve.

I think it can also interfere in other unknown ways. The two cycles where I ovulated with Clomid, I did not conceive. The two cycles I ovulated with other meds I did conceive.

Yes. Clomid can cause a thin lining, making implantation difficult or impossible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would taking clomid possibly produce higher chance of having more eggs to fertilize? I don’t think I have ovulation problems but perhaps shooting out two eggs then maybe one would get fertilized?

Op here.

If you ovulate normally, clomid can indeed have your ovaries produce multiple mature eggs. Yes this ups your chances of pregnancy in general, but also ups your chances of twins and triplets and possibly more.

Almost all the women who have entire litters of children (4, 5, 6, 7 or !8!) have had this happen with these types of drugs. I follow one woman on instagram who had quadruplets while taking clomid. They knew there was 3 eggs possible, took the chance and surprise there was four.

NP. My first cycle of clomid (50mg) resulted in 7 mature follicles. RE cancelled the cycle due to the risk. I shudder every time I read a post on this board and others from a woman wanting to do unmonitored clomid, or OBs who don't insist on monitoring.

Anonymous wrote:Would taking clomid possibly produce higher chance of having more eggs to fertilize? I don’t think I have ovulation problems but perhaps shooting out two eggs then maybe one would get fertilized?

Op here.

If you ovulate normally, clomid can indeed have your ovaries produce multiple mature eggs. Yes this ups your chances of pregnancy in general, but also ups your chances of twins and triplets and possibly more.

Almost all the women who have entire litters of children (4, 5, 6, 7 or !8!) have had this happen with these types of drugs. I follow one woman on instagram who had quadruplets while taking clomid. They knew there was 3 eggs possible, took the chance and surprise there was four.

Would taking clomid possibly produce higher chance of having more eggs to fertilize? I don’t think I have ovulation problems but perhaps shooting out two eggs then maybe one would get fertilized?

Op here.

I took clomid once and got pregnant the first time. I needed it to jump start ovulation. My doctor said there was an increased risk of multiples, but not that high of a risk. If you look at the statistics, it is not huge.

If the fertility issue does not relate to ovulation, then taking Clomid would be subjecting to your body to the potential side effects of a drug it does not need. Maybe try other methods to pin point the issue before going with Clomid?