Questions about Clomid

Clomid

Clomid is a brand name for Clomiphene Citrate, an ovulation inducing fertility drug. In Australia another brand, Serophene, is often prescribed. This is the same thing as Clomid. Clomid is often prescribed for women who do not ovulate or who ovulate irregularly. It can also be used to correct a Luteal Phase Defect.

Clomid works by increasing the production of FSH (the hormone which causes the ovaries to produce follicles). It is taken for 5 consecutive days early in your cycle and you must be sure that you are not pregnant before taking it. Your doctor will tell you which days and what dosage to take. After taking Clomid you should have follow-up consultations with your doctor throughout your cycle to check on your progress by using ultrasound and/or blood tests. From these your doctor will be able to tell you when you will ovulate. If the Clomid is going to work, most women will get pregnant within 6 cycles.

A variety of side effects can be experience whilst taking Clomid but some women do not experience any. Some of these side effects may include nausea, tiredness, headaches, moodiness, decrease in cervical mucous, a thinner uterine lining, hot flushes, ovarian hyperstimulation, and bloating. You should always speak to your doctor if you are concerned about the side effects that you may be experiencing.

There is also a small chance of becoming pregnant with multiples when taking Clomid - approximately a 5% chance of twins. Higher order multiples are much rarer.

We hope this has answered some of your questions about what Clomid is and why it is used. If you are taking Clomid, please feel free to join in the Trying to Conceive & Taking Clomid and/or Metformin thread which is found in the Conception - TTC Buddies Forum.

Hi,
Was wondering if anyone has any insight to when best to take clomid. I am about to start taking my second round of clomid (tonight) and just wanted feedback. Last month I took it in the morning and was in tears for the majority of the day and extremely fatigued (besides some other minor side effects) but I don't know whether it was a direct affect of the drug or the fact that I have to take the little blighters if we want to have a baby.
I have thought to trial it at night and wondered if anyone else has played around with the time of day to take them to reduce the effects a little.

Also thank you for starting up this thread for the clomid questions. It is a wonderful idea and I look forward to communicating with others going through the same.

Cheers
Deborah

Hi Deborah

I took my first cycle of clomid in the morning then with the second cycle in the evening.It lessened the side effects greatly for me.ALso on my first cycle I took them days 2-6 then second cycle days 4-8 and it worked!

I hated the hot flushes the most!!!!!!!!

Goodluck.................

Hi Deborah,

I'm in the middle of my first course of Clomid. My OB has started me on a really small dose (25mg daily), and consequently, I've not had too many side effects. Have been taking them in the morning, but I've also heard that taking them in the evening lessens the side effects. I've also been a little teary, but I reckon alot of that is just thinking about having to take a rotten tablet in order to conceive!!

Rosro

Hi Kirsty and Rosro,
Thanks for your replies. I have just put a posting in the clomid discussion about hot flushes.
Don't know whether I am truly experiencing them or not. Being such a cold person (and that doesn't mean heartless) it is so unusual for me to get hot. But this week I have been overcome with these hot spells where I have to find a way to cool down. So funny...particularly for DH. He thinks taking my clothes off mean I must be ready.... "No I am not ovulating I am just hot". hehehe.
Actually enjoying this experience with the clomd.....it has made be so more intuned with my body. But I just wish I didn't have to do this just to have a baby....
Cheers
Deb

I am 10 weeks pregnant according to my ultrasound after 6 months on clomid:clap: The problem is is that I had a bleed only 7 weeks ago which suggests that I could have been pregnant when I took the clomid last. Do you know what effects this might have on the baby?

Hi there just a new user to this website and very interested in this question or the answers you may receive.. I am on clomid hopeing to fall pregnant but it's hard to know to stop it when you dont know if you are preg or not. Still learning how and where to go and cant see any replys to your message? have you had any. Congratulations on yor pregnancy!

No I didnt get any replies to my thread. I did ask my dr about it though and she said that even if i did take it whilst i was pregnant it only stimulated the folical so it shouldnt have any effect. I gave birth almost 2 weeks ago to a healthy baby boy ;). I think it is better to take a pregancy test before taking clonid each month though to be sure. Best of luck with it all.

Congrats on the birth of your healthy baby boy amac!

Thanks so much for the reply! Was something i was wondering a bout and was keen to find about what your thread reply may have been.
Congrats on your healthy baby boy, how exciting!!
Will keep trying and hope the clomid works well and and we fall pregnant this month.

Good Evening

This is my first time using a chat site like this so i'm a little nervous, i have been subscribed by my doctor to take Clomid, i will be taking it for the first time, i'm a little confused as to when to start taking Clomid as my cycle is up to 34 days and i have some spotting, but should i take the tablet in the spotting section or the full menstral time of my period, ( i have taken a pregnancy test and it was negative), as i want to maximise my best chances of falling pregnant.

Regards Possum

Hi possum, I really don't know the answer to your question, but I think you should check with your GP to be sure. Gee, that makes it a bit tricky. My cycle lengths vary between 30 and 43 days but I don't get spotting. I know my OB wants me to take mine in the morning from the 2nd day of my period.

I have done one cycle of clomid and have 2 more rounds from my next period to take.

Wishing you all the best!!

Thank you for responding to me yes i have checked with my local doctor and he recommends from the normal menstral cycle, fingers crossed it works.
regards
Possum5874

:crossfingers: Fingers crossed here for you

Hi
I took clomid for almost 13 years, It resulted in 4 pregnancies in that time 1 misc 10w 1994, 1 incomp misc (delivery) 17.5w 1998, one live birth emerg c 38 weeks 2003 & misc 10w 2006 persistant trophoblastic disease 3month chemo treatment, now 16m remission. I cannot take clomid any more due to high chance in developing ovrian cancer. Taking clomid more than a 3 month cycle can trigger gyno cancers due to hormones. I turned 39 yesterday and was in hospital with pnemonia, Id wouldnt like to think that my chances of conceiveing natuarally have dimminished, but never have conceived without help before.

I started taking Clomid for the 1st time in January. I took the Clomid fron days 5-9 as advised by my Endo Specialist. Today is day 36 of this cycle and still no period. I had a blood test yesterday which came back negative today :(. Has this happen to anyone else??? I don't know what to think.

I took clomid one cycle due to the fact the doctor diagnosed me with polycystic ovaries anyway no luck was prescribed the second month but i forgot to get pres filled so the next month before the doctor prescribed them again i had a test done where they run dye through the tubes it took a while for the dye to run through my right tube but the doctor said it could have been mucas are something so the doctor did clomid again the following month and i got pregnant and my egg was realeased on my right side where it took longer to release the dye but anyway i m/c at 5.5 wks so this time im believing the lord is going to do it without the medication

I have just finished all my tests to make sure I am OK to start Clomid. I rarely get periods so am not sure what days would be best to take it, does anyone have an ideas? I am yet to meet with my specialist.

Hi.

Im knew to this but here we go.
Only yesterday I was told to start Clomid by my gyno and start them whenever I wanted because I havent had a period for about 10 months and my fiance and I want to have children. He has diagnosed me with polycystic ovaries.

How many cycles has anyone needed to use Clomid for before falling pregnant??
I have alwasy wanted children and cant believe that I need help to do so. Its a little depressing for me. My mum has had 4 children and when I found out about having cysts on my ovaries she said that she does, but she hasnt had any problems.

Its all a little confusing and daunting as to what will follow.

Christine:doh:

I am feeling exactly the same way, I was told by my gynae a few months ago that I had polycystic ovaries too. It had been about 4 months since my last period so my doctor prescribed provera to bring one on & I then started clomid on the 2nd day. I just finished taking those last week & am now waiting anxiously until I have my blood test on the 21st day of my cycle to see if it has made me ovulate. :pray: I too have a few friends who have the same thing & haven't had an issue, not that it makes you feel any better to hear that does it? I do have a very good friend though that tried for 3 years to get pregnant with no luck & she hadn't had a period for 12 months so they put her on clomid too. After 1 unsucessfull cycle they doubled the dose & she was pregnant by the 3rd month, so im trying to keep this is my mind so hopefully that also makes you feel a little better too???

Thanks Kell,
It's reassuring to know that it is working for other couples. Im kinda afriad that its just me... that im not going to be able to, ever. I know that ia probably far fetched but its still going through my head at a rapid rate.
I hope it works out for you sooner rather then later.

Thanks Kell,
It's reassuring to know that it is working for other couples. Im kinda afriad that its just me... that im not going to be able to, ever. I know that ia probably far fetched but its still going through my head at a rapid rate.

I hope it works out for you sooner rather then later.:)

It's really hard not to get dejected isn't it, I feel exactly the same way & I think it's harder when everyone else seems to be having babies all around you as well! I do tend to always see the worst outcome rather than the positive so I really need to try & change that as im sure it doesn't help the situation. I must say even joining this forum & hearing your story Christine definately helps as you really realise it's not just yourself going through this issue & it's really nice to talk to someone who actually understands how you feel. Have you tried any alternative therapies at all, I have heard really great things about Chinese medicine & accupuncture to help get pregnant & also I have a friend that wasn't getting periods or ovulating & she wanted to get pregnant so she went to a Natropath & they got her cycle back on track within 2 months & she j\was pregnant a month after that!

You are completely right about the hard part of everyone else around us having babies. I know a girl who has just turned 15 fall pregnant with her boyfriend of 3 or 4 months. When he dad told me I just burst out laughing. He said that it isnt funny and got a bit upset with me. If i didnt laugh i was going to cry. I know a few people at the moment that are pregnant or trying who really arent in the position to. Good luck to them i guess.

No, I havent tried any other alternative therapies. This is the first thing on my list. I have recently just gotten engaged and I am planning the wedding of a lifetime but if I want to have children I cant really wait. The doctor said that I have mild polocystic ovaries but doesnt know if it will worsen or not down the track. My fiance and I have decided that if I fall pregnant in the next 3 or so months we will put the wedding back from November next yr until may or something. Technicalities havent really been discussed. We want children and doent want to risk further complications.

Where Im from there isnt really much on the alternative treatments. As it was I has to travel 2.5 hours to see the gyno because he only come here once a month and he is always full. Fingers crossed that this works.

Well being that far away doesn't help does it? Are you sure stress isn't playing a part in making things worse for you, I think sometimes that's half my problem is that I think about it constantly & it starts to consume me which can't be healthy & probably hinders me further. Maybe the wedding & all the planning etc on top of the worrying your doing about getting pregnant is all a bit much for you? As soon as I was told about the issue, so many people said to me "oh my friend has that, or my Sister has that" & most of them didn't find out about it until after their first child, so getting pregnant is certainly a big possibility for you! Maybe we need to chill out a bit more & start thinking positive as that's when things seem to start happening for people is when they forget about it? ;)

Okay from now on we need to try and stop stressing as much. Im hoping that thats it - stress. I was working in a stressful job but I left so now hopefully everything sorts it out.
I was cleaning up the study at home and all i could think about was turning it into the baby's room. But I think you are right we need to stop thinking about it and i know that i need to stop with the stressing.
Everything happens for a reason i guess

That's the attitude we need to adopt I think as you always hear of good things happening to people when they finally let go of the stress & the anger. Maybe you guys should just throw yourselves into the wedding plans & have fun as it the best time in your life & im sure you'll fall pregnant when you least suspect it! Im going to take some of my own advice & just try & chill out a bit, at least until I have my blood test next week that will tell me if the clomid is working.

Happy Planning :)

:

---

Hi.

Im knew to this but here we go.
Only yesterday I was told to start Clomid by my gyno and start them whenever I wanted because I havent had a period for about 10 months and my fiance and I want to have children. He has diagnosed me with polycystic ovaries.

How many cycles has anyone needed to use Clomid for before falling pregnant??
I have alwasy wanted children and cant believe that I need help to do so. Its a little depressing for me. My mum has had 4 children and when I found out about having cysts on my ovaries she said that she does, but she hasnt had any problems.

Its all a little confusing and daunting as to what will follow.

Christine:doh:

---

I also have PCOS and was TTC for 2 years. Just one cycle of clomid did it for me and now i have a beautiful baby girl! I was taking clomid from day 5-9.

You have no idea how encouraging it is to hear that Hollye, im sure Christine agrees that it makes you feel a lot better about your own situation when you know the medication has worked for others.:) Congratulations on your beautifull baby girl!

From what you said before, it makes me worry a little less. FANTASTIC

Im feeling so sick at the moment. Hopefully its worth while. I would hate to think im going to be like this for a few months until I fall pregnant.

Yes I hear you! I actually felt worse on the few days after taking the clomid than I did whilst taking it, but it's all worth it isn't it if we get the outcome we both want? Are you on 50mg of clomid or 100mg a day? I hope you feel better.:D

oh man i hear ya! i felt horrid on clomid. Hot sweats and the works. But as Kel said its all worth it in the end.

So you also had hot sweats & flushes, I think that's what im finding the hardest to deal with but it's worse since I finished the first lot of clomid! Can I ask how much clomid you were on also Hollye when you fell pregnant with Mia? She's absolutely gorgeous by the way!

Im on 50mg a day at the moment but if I have no success i will have to up the dose next time. Im feeling better today but im so hot today. I've been sweating and feeling aweful like that.

Is the first lot of Clomid the worst ir does it only get worse?!?!?!?!

i was only 50mg i think and i fell pregnant the first month of taking it but i was on something (dont knw the name) before that to bring on a period and clean everything out so when i did fall pregnant it gave the egg and that a better chance to stick. I was taking clomid on day 5,6,7,8 and 9.

I dont think the syptoms would get worse. I was told to give a minimum of 3 months to fall pregnant on clomid and a max of around 9 months. HTH

I can't answer that one im afraid as this is my first month on clomid too so we are at the same stage! Im also on 50mg a day & as you said mine will also go up next month to 100mg if it doesn't work. Im due for my blood test next Thursday so ill definately let you know how I go, are you still actually taking the first course of clomid as we speak? My friend took it & it didn't work the first month so they put her on 100mg & she said the symptoms were no worse so fingers crossed, although it didn't work the second month either but it did work in her third month & she got pregnant in that month also. That's the friend that tried for 3 years to have a baby & no period for over 12 months before she used clomid & now Ella is almost 18 months old & she's pregnant again with her second child due in March so there is certainly hope for us yet. My symptoms haven't been too severe, it's the hot flushes etc though that im struggling with mostly.

:

---

i was only 50mg i think and i fell pregnant the first month of taking it but i was on something (dont knw the name) before that to bring on a period and clean everything out so when i did fall pregnant it gave the egg and that a better chance to stick. I was taking clomid on day 5,6,7,8 and 9.

I dont think the syptoms would get worse. I was told to give a minimum of 3 months to fall pregnant on clomid and a max of around 9 months. HTH

---

Was that provera that you took to bring on a period Hollye? I think that was worse than the clomid, don't you agree?

:

---

I can't answer that one im afraid as this is my first month on clomid too so we are at the same stage! Im also on 50mg a day & as you said mine will also go up next month to 100mg if it doesn't work. Im due for my blood test next Thursday so ill definately let you know how I go, are you still actually taking the first course of clomid as we speak? My friend took it & it didn't work the first month so they put her on 100mg & she said the symptoms were no worse so fingers crossed, although it didn't work the second month either but it did work in her third month & she got pregnant in that month also. That's the friend that tried for 3 years to have a baby & no period for over 12 months before she used clomid & now Ella is almost 18 months old & she's pregnant again with her second child due in March so there is certainly hope for us yet. My symptoms haven't been too severe, it's the hot flushes etc though that im struggling with mostly.

---

I am 4 days into taking the first lot of tablets. The first day I was ok then day 2 i got really really tired, day 3 I was sick then today I feel really hot and tired. I dont think my body can make up its mind... hehe
The second baby your friend is having was she on Clomid too?

No the second baby wasn't with clomid actually, she assumed she'd need it again as she only had one period in the 14 months since Ella was born & yet straight after that 1 period she fell pregnant again which was a big surprise so hopefully that is what happens with us! So have you discussed with your doctor what happens next if the Clomid is unsuccessfull, im not quite sure what the next step is? My doctor mentioned something briefly about injections of homones, do you know by any chance?

yep thats what it was. mind u it was the most painful period i had ever had!