Questions about Clomid

[Dottiee]

Hey ladies,

My specialist said he will be giving me an HSG in January and then starting me on Clomid. I've read a few Clomid threads and it seems that there is a lot of monitoring while you're on it.

Can anyone explain the process of Clomid (ie. when you take it, what testing is done while you're on it, how you know it's working, etc.)?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Palladium]

Hi there.

Clomid regimens actually vary a lot, depending on where you are, how your doctor prefers to do it, etc. But the basics are:

You take the clomid once a day for 5 days early in your cycle, the particular days range from CD2-6 up to CD5-9, depending on your doctor's preference. There's no real data on which days work better.

It's generally best to take it at night, at the same time each day, as this helps minimise side effects during the day. The main ones are hot flashes and headaches, but not everyone gets them.

Some doctors don't really monitor you, they might just do a blood test for progesterone to confirm ovulation on around day 21.

If you are being monitored, its usually a combination of blood tests for estrogen, LH and progesterone levels, and ultrasounds to check the number and size of your follicles. This can tell you very clearly when you are about to ovulate and confirm after it's happened. Monitoring is usually done to make sure you don't get too many follicles. Your doc may be okay with more than one depending on what else you are having done. Mine only wants one follicle each cycle because we are trying naturally, and she doesn't want to risk multiples, but it depends on your particular situation.

Basically you know it's working if your estrogen levels are increasing and you have 1 or more good sized follicles. If its not working you may not ovulate at all, which the blood tests will show. Generally they start you on a low dose (25 or 50mg) and then slowly increase it if that doesn't work. You can go up to about 150 or 200mg, but they start at the lowest dose to avoid multiple follicles. Once they find the dose that works they'll keep you on that until you either get pregnant or your doc wants you to stop and try something else. Usually they recommend only 6 cycles of clomid, maybe up to 9 if it takes a few to get the right dose. If it hasn't worked for you in that time it generally won't so you need to switch to something else.

I'm doing my second round of clomid right now with monitoring, its actually very reassuring to know what's going on, and see how the follicles are maturing. It means going in to the clinic every couple of days, but I don't mind that.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[Dottiee]

Hi there.

Clomid regimens actually vary a lot, depending on where you are, how your doctor prefers to do it, etc. But the basics are:

You take the clomid once a day for 5 days early in your cycle, the particular days range from CD2-6 up to CD5-9, depending on your doctor's preference. There's no real data on which days work better.

It's generally best to take it at night, at the same time each day, as this helps minimise side effects during the day. The main ones are hot flashes and headaches, but not everyone gets them.

Some doctors don't really monitor you, they might just do a blood test for progesterone to confirm ovulation on around day 21.

If you are being monitored, its usually a combination of blood tests for estrogen, LH and progesterone levels, and ultrasounds to check the number and size of your follicles. This can tell you very clearly when you are about to ovulate and confirm after it's happened. Monitoring is usually done to make sure you don't get too many follicles. Your doc may be okay with more than one depending on what else you are having done. Mine only wants one follicle each cycle because we are trying naturally, and she doesn't want to risk multiples, but it depends on your particular situation.

Basically you know it's working if your estrogen levels are increasing and you have 1 or more good sized follicles. If its not working you may not ovulate at all, which the blood tests will show. Generally they start you on a low dose (25 or 50mg) and then slowly increase it if that doesn't work. You can go up to about 150 or 200mg, but they start at the lowest dose to avoid multiple follicles. Once they find the dose that works they'll keep you on that until you either get pregnant or your doc wants you to stop and try something else. Usually they recommend only 6 cycles of clomid, maybe up to 9 if it takes a few to get the right dose. If it hasn't worked for you in that time it generally won't so you need to switch to something else.

I'm doing my second round of clomid right now with monitoring, its actually very reassuring to know what's going on, and see how the follicles are maturing. It means going in to the clinic every couple of days, but I don't mind that.

Hope this is helpful!

Thanks so much for such a detailed reply!! I hope this round of clomid is the one for you!

 

[Palladium]

Thanks, me too! Good luck to you as well.

 

[smurfy]

Hey when you took your first cycle of clomid, did you have any side effects around when your period was due? what was your cycle length.

I have had cramps for about 2 days but no period yet, i normally have cramps for about a day and they it starts. I have just taken my first cycle of clomid 5 days from day 2 - 6 and I was just given the blood test to confirm if i ovulated or not, waiting for results, but i did have postive opk test.

Thanks for your help

 

[Palladium]

Hi, with my first clomid cycle I ovulated on day 18 (not unusual for me, I always O late) and I had a 14 day luteal phase. I don't remember any particular symptoms with my period, just mild cramps from the day before like usual. But I am on a very low dose, just 25mg. And I didn't really expect that cycle to work because my follicle wasn't all that big when I ovulated. I'm hoping this month will be better

My clinic does blood tests every couple of days from day 8 to monitor estrogen and LH, which lets you know if your follicle is nearing maturity and helps predict ovulation. When you are getting close they do an ultrasound to check the number and size of the follicles. Then they confirm ovulation with a progesterone blood test. It's a lot of visits, but it means I always know what's going on, I don't have to wait around wondering if I ovulated or not. But I guess a lot of places don't monitor that closely.