would love your advice ...should I go on clomid next month or wait

[sarahincanada]

Hi ladies
I have a bit of a dilemma and I would love the advice of my fellow over 35's.

I am 38, (hubby is 29 ), been together 9 years / married 6 years and trying for our first. I have always been a career girl and I also wanted to wait till hubby was older. Been NTNP since Feb 2010, didnt start tracking periods and ovulation and in my mind properly trying till Sept 2010.

I was sent to a FS and they ran some tests....both our bloods are great and my FSH is 5. Hubbies sperm analysis was excellent with very good results in the super swimmers. They suspected a polyp after a sono and I had that removed last month. I ovulated a week after my operation and we did BD a couple of times but it wasnt a proper try. Right now I am on my first proper cycle after polyp removal and just ovulated so FXd!!

anyway went to see my FS yesterday, shes not sure if the polyp was preventing me getting pregnant or not, so suggested I go on Clomid next month with monitoring by bloods/ultrasound. Then after trying that a couple of months then try IUI.

I came away with mix emotions...some of me is so unhappy to have to think about 'help' and the other side of me is great lets get a move on as I want a couple of kids. So now I have a big decision to make...do I wait a few months of trying naturally to see if it was the polyp then try the clomid with monitoring, or should I just start next month. I wish I could have a crystal ball, if someone was to tell me I wouldnt conceive naturally the next 3 months I would just go for it.

I think I might try at least one more month naturally, then rather than going to the clomid and monitoring I might ask if I can go straight to clomid and IUI. If Im talking the clomid in my mind why not do the other too.

what do you ladies think? Im 39 in October and so just not sure what to do ...thanks for listening!

 

[Indigo77]

I would give it 1 more try naturally, and then follow your FS's plan.

 

[Kat M]

Hi,
If you are considering Clomid there are a few things to be aware of:

There are some rare but quite nasty side effects and some less serious but commonly experienced side effects.

Surprisingly some of the side effects can actually reduce your chances of conceiving. For example, it can cause vaginal dryness.

Clomid works by synthetically stimulating ovulation. This may be great for some women, however, it doesn't actually get to the root of the problem. E.g. If the problem is due to a hormonal imbalance, drugs will temporarily help you to produce the necessary hormone, but it does not help the body to heal itself naturally.

Whatever the cause of the problem, it remains untreated and could potentially cause problems further down the line. IMO it is better to get to the root of the problem. This is not a new concept - Eastern medicine has always treated the source of the problem. Visit my site for more info.

Good luck whatever you decide.
Kat x

 

[Macwooly]

Sarah not sure if I will be a huge help as I don't really know much, if anything, about Clomid but didn't want to read and run

If I were in your situation I would take the Clomid combined with IUI option. I do want a child naturally but if I found my body needed a little help to give me a baby then I would accept that help as the end result will be so worth the while. Also in my mind once I had that bundle of joy and the pressure was off I could then just carry on without BC to see if nature provided me with another without any helping hands.

Sometimes in life we can't do things alone or as a couple and a little help is needed, accepting that help takes strength.

I wish you all the luck in the world reaching your decision but remember you have to do what is right for you and your DH

 

[mrsdh]

I would try the natural approach for one more cycle. You never know you could conceive in the few months of just taking clomid. It's still a 'natural' way of conceiving,clomid is just given you a bit of a boost. We take folic acid and vitamins to boost our chances so I would liken it to that. If after a few months of just clomid you haven't conceived, don't beat yourself up about trying iui. The ultimate ending is your babe in arms
I understand your feelings but you will be in no way a failure if it comes to some intervention. Just imagine yourself having given birth, you will look back and would do it all again,I promise you that. Fx Hun that in the next few months you get a very speedy bfp. Good luck xx

 

[Indigo77]

It's still a 'natural' way of conceiving,clomid is just given you a bit of a boost. We take folic acid and vitamins to boost our chances so I would liken it to that.

 

[luvmydoggies]

Hi SarahinCanada-
My dh is 30 and I am 37. I love my younger guy.

I would try the clomid first, since your dh has awesome and then try the clomid with IUI. GL and lots of to you.

 

[kosh]

hi sarah, i know nothing about clomid so won't be a lot of help, but i think if i were you i'd try at least one more cycle on your own, and then go with the FS suggestions.
i understand your mixed emotions, but there's nothing wrong with an extra bit of help if it'll take where you want to be!

 

[sarahincanada]

thank you everyone for the lovely responses after a day of feeling a little down and unsure about everything I feel pretty good now. I am going to try naturally for a couple of months, then the clomid, then the IUI. I did panic a bit after she said to start next month, and then was worrying about my age. but the good thing is my FSH is normal, I seem to be ovulating due to ov sticks and temping, and my cycles are pretty regular.

Im in the 2WW now and going to be calm about this one I dont symptom spot anymore as Ive literally had every symptom and not been pregnant.

wishing all of you waiting for your BFP lots of luck and babydust. It will happen for us, we have to just keep positive and never give up hope

 

[velo]

I would be skeptical of going on the Clomid unless the FS can determine there is a problem with ovulation. It can cause other side effects as others have mentioned - which can also work against you getting pregnant! I would lean towards a few more months of trying naturally.

 

[sarahincanada]

I would be skeptical of going on the Clomid unless the FS can determine there is a problem with ovulation. It can cause other side effects as others have mentioned - which can also work against you getting pregnant! I would lean towards a few more months of trying naturally.

yes its funny, when she mentioned clomid she didnt talk about side effects or anything. and with the iui I said is there any point because of hubby having good swimmers but she said its the combination of washed sperm and the clomid which could help.

I think (because apart from the polyp) Im somewhat unexplained unfertility so the next step has to be clomid. even though it looks like my cycles are regular and I am ovulating I supposed I dont know if my eggs or lining are strong, and isnt that what clomid helps? can they test for those things before starting clomid?

I agree with your points though and Im going to try some months naturally. keep your fingers crossed for me

 

[velo]

yes its funny, when she mentioned clomid she didnt talk about side effects or anything. and with the iui I said is there any point because of hubby having good swimmers but she said its the combination of washed sperm and the clomid which could help.

I think (because apart from the polyp) Im somewhat unexplained unfertility so the next step has to be clomid. even though it looks like my cycles are regular and I am ovulating I supposed I dont know if my eggs or lining are strong, and isnt that what clomid helps? can they test for those things before starting clomid?

I agree with your points though and Im going to try some months naturally. keep your fingers crossed for me

Some things that IUI could help with would be if your cervical mucus has the wrong pH (they should be able to test for that!) or if your mucus has developed antibodies to your husband's sperm and is killing them off (this can be tested with a postcoital test - have they done one or would your RE consider doing one?)

I think Clomid can help the egg maturation, but I don't know about the lining. I would ask your RE that question, what things specifically will the Clomid help with, and what things should you watch out for. I know I have read women using Robotussin (sp?) with Clomid to help with cervical mucus, since Clomid can dry up the mucus.

I think they can test the lining thickness with some type of ultrasound? When you charted how high were you temps during the luteal phase, and did they stay high or go up and down? If they are somewhat lowish in the luteal phase it may indicate a progesterone deficiency. You might also suspect an insufficient lining if your periods are somewhat scant. (last cycle my period was so scant I took a pg test anyway, but it was neg, I am not sure why this cycle was so light but it can't mean good things for a strong lining)

Have you ever been tested for celiac disease? I have also read that a significant number of women that are diagnosed with unexplained infertility actual are gluten intolerant.

There also may be some herbs that can act in some ways like Clomid but without the overpowering side effects. Vitex or chaste berry is something that I am trying now that is supposed to balance hormone levels and improve ovulation. Wild yams are supposed to be great too, apparently they also produce more twins

FX and lots of

 

[sarahincanada]

yes its funny, when she mentioned clomid she didnt talk about side effects or anything. and with the iui I said is there any point because of hubby having good swimmers but she said its the combination of washed sperm and the clomid which could help.

I think (because apart from the polyp) Im somewhat unexplained unfertility so the next step has to be clomid. even though it looks like my cycles are regular and I am ovulating I supposed I dont know if my eggs or lining are strong, and isnt that what clomid helps? can they test for those things before starting clomid?

I agree with your points though and Im going to try some months naturally. keep your fingers crossed for me

Some things that IUI could help with would be if your cervical mucus has the wrong pH (they should be able to test for that!) or if your mucus has developed antibodies to your husband's sperm and is killing them off (this can be tested with a postcoital test - have they done one or would your RE consider doing one?)

I think Clomid can help the egg maturation, but I don't know about the lining. I would ask your RE that question, what things specifically will the Clomid help with, and what things should you watch out for. I know I have read women using Robotussin (sp?) with Clomid to help with cervical mucus, since Clomid can dry up the mucus.

I think they can test the lining thickness with some type of ultrasound? When you charted how high were you temps during the luteal phase, and did they stay high or go up and down? If they are somewhat lowish in the luteal phase it may indicate a progesterone deficiency. You might also suspect an insufficient lining if your periods are somewhat scant. (last cycle my period was so scant I took a pg test anyway, but it was neg, I am not sure why this cycle was so light but it can't mean good things for a strong lining)

Have you ever been tested for celiac disease? I have also read that a significant number of women that are diagnosed with unexplained infertility actual are gluten intolerant.

There also may be some herbs that can act in some ways like Clomid but without the overpowering side effects. Vitex or chaste berry is something that I am trying now that is supposed to balance hormone levels and improve ovulation. Wild yams are supposed to be great too, apparently they also produce more twins

FX and lots of

wow you are so knowledgeable! I will look into some of those things mentions, and no I havent been tested for anything you mentioned. I am just temping this month so I will see if my temps are low in the luteal phase. I was a bit annoyed with the appointment and felt a bit rushed, I have to call CD1 of the cycle I want to do the clomid and monitoring and go in CD3 so I assume they would explain everything there.
Im definitely going to try naturally for a bit anyway. Hanging out in this folder makes me feel like I have some time
thanks so much!

 

[velo]

I've read a whole lot in books in an effort to try to be successful at having a baby but I have no experience with the "system" yet. So I will likely get annoyed to find the tests I want to have done are not something that doctors here do.

I'm getting impatient to find out what factors may be at work here. I think my chart is too sawtoothed for one. Which can be because of stress. Its a bit of a vicious cycle, obsessing about having a baby, getting too stressed, not being successful, more stress. DH gets a SA done tomorrow, I have a physical in 2 weeks, and at that time I'll hopefully get a referral to a FS of some sort.

 

[creatingpeace]

Oh I am a huge fan of clomid!!! After 18 months of trying...I was ovulating and having regualr periods, the Specialist tried clomid before wanting us to consider more intrusive meassures. Anyways, we conceived on the third round! I feel it was completely natural, his sperm, my egg, implanted through BD...just a lil help to ENSURE ovulation occured and the egg dropped. I am in NO WAY suggesting what was right for me must be right for you, just wanted to share success and allieviate any concerns!!! Clomid was my friend! Good luck on your journey!!!

 

[Minno]

Well said creatingpeace!. I am in the same situation as you were. 28 cycles of no luck, unexplained infertility, ov fine and cycles regular, tubes all clear, DH sperm fine. Starting Clomid next week and hoping for a miracle. Not looking forward to side effects but will be worth it if I get a bfp at long last.
Congratulations to you and good luck to all the ladies on here travelling this difficult road xxx

 

[sarahincanada]

Oh I am a huge fan of clomid!!! After 18 months of trying...I was ovulating and having regualr periods, the Specialist tried clomid before wanting us to consider more intrusive meassures. Anyways, we conceived on the third round! I feel it was completely natural, his sperm, my egg, implanted through BD...just a lil help to ENSURE ovulation occured and the egg dropped. I am in NO WAY suggesting what was right for me must be right for you, just wanted to share success and allieviate any concerns!!! Clomid was my friend! Good luck on your journey!!!

oh wow thats great! did you have any side effects when taking it?
congrats!!!
p.s see you are in canada too!

 

[sarahincanada]

Well said creatingpeace!. I am in the same situation as you were. 28 cycles of no luck, unexplained infertility, ov fine and cycles regular, tubes all clear, DH sperm fine. Starting Clomid next week and hoping for a miracle. Not looking forward to side effects but will be worth it if I get a bfp at long last.
Congratulations to you and good luck to all the ladies on here travelling this difficult road xxx

please come back to this thread and let me know how you do....Im not that far behind you as Im going to try naturally for a few months. Im the same, everything on paper seems fine, apart from the polyp I had removed last month, Im really hoping that was the problem.
good luck next week

 

[Minno]

I will definately come back on and give you all an update. I am a bit nervous taking them but really need to give myself a bit of hope back. Every month with no luck is just so soul destroying and draining. I am wiling to try anything now practically. I'm also 41 so time isn't on my side.
Good luck ladies - hope we are all reporting our BFPs on here very soon. MrsDH - you are getting yours next cycle!!! I predict it! xxxxxxx

 

[mrsdh]

Hello Minno Hun
Yep I'll be joining you ladies on the clomid train in June. It's the last resort now and we need all the encouragement we can get. Thank you creatingpeace for some positive news Good luck everyone xxxx