Hi belle,

I have PCOS, and do not ovulate without stimulation. Jazz was conceived with IUI, and the help of Clomid. It was my 4th cycle, CD5-9 75mg, and also a HCG shot (ovidrel I think?) to pop the egg out.

My first two cycles were CD2-6 25mg, and then CD2-6 50mg, late ovulation (about CD 18-20), follies that were on the small side, and kind of thin endo lining (follies and lining in the bottom range of acceptable ... if that makes sense) but no BFP. The fourth cycle was really good, ovulated CD18 but with an excellent sized follie and really thick endometrium lining.

The physical side effects were frustrating bbut not toooooo bad. The headaches and hot flashes were the worst, but not everyone gets them.I can't even remember what other physical side effects I got... it seems so long ago...

I got one cyst in the whole 4 months, and that was at the end of cycle 3, and it resolved itself in a matter of days.

I found it really tough on Clomid. I have a history of depression and anxiety. The first cycle was ok, and the second wasn't too bad, but the third and fourth were horrid. I did back to back cycles, so as soon as AF arrived I was back on Clomid, so I didn't get a break. I was also charting too which I think makes it impossible to wake up and forget that you're waiting to ovulate/in the TWW, which for me was more stress too. If cycle 4 hadn't worked we were going to have a few months break so that I could get myself together. I hadn't had a depressive episode since beginning 2006 but there were some really low days towards the end of cycle 3 and into cycle 4.

That said, its worth it in the end. I would do the same thing over again, and will to conceive more little bundles down the track. I think you just need to be aware of yourself, and make sure you have a break before you reach breaking point. If you have had depression before, then you'll probably be able to sense ifn you are slipping back in, and catch it before it gets to a extreme point. Plus Clomid was only one aspect in my depression I think, and I'm not sure if I would have had symptoms so severely had I not been dealing with some other stuff as well.

Anyway, that was my experience on Clomid. HTH