Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

What is the criteria for the Dr to prescribe clomid? I'm going to call tomorrow for an appointment, but I'm worried he'll tell me to wait it out.

If I know the criteria, I'll know if going is a waste of my time at this point.

TIA!

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Hey Jr

my Dr. Was pretty easy about it
I told her about my thyroid problem and that I've only been getting AF every 6 weeks and since charting, i dont "O" until CD27-29 or thereabouts

that was it!!

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

My gyn put me on Metformin first because she wanted to see if it would help bring on my cycles. I wasn't having any cycles after I went off BC. The Met worked well but my cycles are still on the longer side. Been on it for 7 months.

At my recent annual visit we discussed Clomid. She gave me my RX and sent me on my way. She said to take it from now till Oct and then we can talk REs.

It was only till I posted on here about it that I was informed that I should be seeing a RE before I take the Clomid. While on Clomid you need to be monitored closely. Thank GOD for these ladies for telling me this. Now I am going to see a RE on the 30th and will start the Clomid under his supervision.

I would suggest going to an RE before starting Clomid. GL!!!

ETA: My gyn put me on clomid because I have PCOS. My cycles are long.. She told me that the clomid will help me to ovulate regularly.

Message edited 4/20/2008 11:30:00 PM.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

i think everyone is different
my ob/gyn said that 2 of her 3 children are products of clomid and did not mention me going to an RE; but she also knows that i see my endo. regularly for my TSH levels and that is where i get my met Rx

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

After about 4 months or so of no luck TTC the Dr.(my regular ob/gyn) prescribed clomid. He never mentioned seeing an RE but did send me for bloodwork and sonos. But he did give me the prescription before I did the tests.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

You should definitely be monitored while on clomid. Some ob/gyns can do this in their offices, but many don't- they write the script and send you off on your merry way.
You should have bloodwork and sonos to see if your follicles are maturing and to make sure you don't produce too many follies which can give you OHSS.

IMO clomid is given out way too freely by gynos. It is a serious fertility drug.

ETA: You really should be seeing an RE if you are on clomid. My gyno would not put me on it, she sent me to an RE.

Message edited 4/21/2008 10:00:12 AM.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

IMO, if you're going to take the Clomid I would be under the care of an RE. First, you need a lot of monitoring when you're on it and secondly, you're not suppose to take more than 12 cycles of Clomid in your LIFETIME because over time it thins the lining of your uterus.

I started seeing an RE in Sept. (who I am done with because after 3 months there I was pregnant) and I can tell you first hand that the level of knowledge and care you receive from the RE far surpasses that of your regular OB/GYN. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my OB/GYN practice but they are NOT experts on fertility and when I started a few years ago trying to get pregnant they instantly put me on Clomid and that was it!! I was getting nowhere, they weren't exploring any other options, and we gave up after 4 months. I think OB/GYN's are SO quick to put people on Clomid as if it's some miracle "fix everything" drug.

I had extremely irregular cycles, maybe I would get a period 2-4X/year!! I wasn't always ovulating but the RE did not put me on Clomid right away. In fact, I got pregnant before ever needing it. I was put on Metformin to regulate me and after 3 months I ovulated on my own and got pregnant. But the point is the RE worked with us to explore other options, he tested everything to get at the cause of my problem and I just felt I was getting such better care there. This is their field of expertise, OB/GYN's are NOT fertility specialists and when we wanted to try again to get pregnant last year (based on my history) my GYN sent me right over to an RE. It was the BEST thing she ever did for me. So my recommendation before you do anything is to see an RE if you're having difficulty conceiving. It may save you a lot of time and heartache. It really was the best thing I EVER did!!

Lots of luck to you!!

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

I had ultrasounds in my teens due to severe abdominal pains, and was diagnosed back then with PCOS.

Because of this diagnosis, my MDs didn't make me wait at all, they allowed me to start clomid right away (when I decided to start the Clomid, I went to a specialist, an endocrinologist who specialized in PCOS, and learned that for women with this diagnosis, the best chances of conceiving is on a combination of clomid/metformin/and dexmethasone.)

Message edited 4/21/2008 2:16:48 PM.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

I would highly recommend going to a RE if you are thinking about Clomid. Clomid cycles should be closely monitored and most gyn's don't do that kind of monitoring. Also, if you are concerned about fertility issues, it might be a good idea to get some testing. HTH and

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

according to my ob/gyn and my sisters - you only need to be monitored if there is cause for concern of another issue

if you ARE ovulating, which I am, but long cycles - no need to check for follicles

if you are not ovulating or other issues, that is a different story

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

knowing what I know now, and having BTDT... I would want to definately be monitored while on Clomid. It is not a "magic pill" and I totally agree with SweeTooth how easily OB's are prescribing this fertility drug. Clomid is a serious drug and should be treated as such. I wasted 5 months this way. And I think it's irresponsible of a doctor to prescribe it and say, "see you in 6 months if you're not pregnant"

The other issues with Clomid is that it has a drying effect on your CM, so you can BD all you want while on Clomid, but there's a good chance you still won't get pregnant. I'm not saying that's the case for everyone, but many women don't know that, and will spend months on Clomid and not have it work. Clomid also is known to thin your uterine lining over time, which is another reason why women on Clomid should be monitored.

JMO

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

sorry, double post somehow!

Message edited 4/21/2008 3:03:49 PM.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Message edited 4/21/2008 3:07:25 PM.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

um, ok

wow, i am so NOT dry from the clomid
as a matter of fact, i had tons of EWCM this cycle

everyone is entitled to their opinion, and i happen to trust my doctor and what she thinks

she did not prescribe it and say "see you in 6 months"
i saw her on april 5th - CD5
and again on the 19th - no u/s but i was ovulating that day

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

My personal opinion is this: Clomid is what I like to refer to as the "big guns". Being on Clomid without being properly monitored, at least on CD3 and around CD11 is probably not a good idea.

There is a 12 cycle LIFETIME maximum for taking Clomid, so it's really important to be under the care of someone who is specifically trained to deal with PCOS and other reproductive disorders.

JMO.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Message edited 4/21/2008 6:19:26 PM.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Understood
and I have confidence that my obey/Guyana is trained and knowledgable in PCOS

to each their own

i disagree in that clomid is the "big guns"
it is actually the FIRST thing used to treat infertility, WAY before moving on to much more invasive tactics

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Message edited 4/21/2008 6:24:37 PM.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

ok, let's first retract claws and stop yelling

1. i was also taking met

2. if you look at OP ?, it asked about
what the dr. did and asked about

3. i was merely responding with MY experience, my sister's experience, and my doctor's professional advice


Jeri, Armyofbabies asked about the criteria for Rx - NOT about an RE

Message edited 4/21/2008 7:01:21 PM.

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

again, i understand that
but in MY case, it is not, and we know, a male fertility issue

i was answering OP's question from my own experiences with my issues of Hashimoto's and PCOS

Re: Ladies Who Have Been Prescribed Clomid..Q?

Laura,
first off- your 'claws' statement came off really defensive. No one is 'attacking' you- the people that are responding to this post are mostly people who have taken clomid for SEVERAL rounds, some of whom (myself included) are now onto injectables with IUI or IVF.
Some of us have been TTC and dealing w/ IF for YEARS... and believe me, I wouldn't wish IF on my worst enemy- not even for a day.
I have known most of the people that responded to this post for quite a while and can tell you, when it comes to meds, procedures, ANYTHING related to IF or TTC- we will be VERY passionate about it, even if that means getting heated on a board, if it helps even 1 person stop and listen. It is by no way to attack another poster...but to educate in what ways we can.
Some of us have wasted MONTHS by not seeing a specialist... and those people don't want to see someone else make that mistake.... regardless of what the OP in each (not just this) thread asked... if we have more to add to the conversation, we always will. Our goal on both this board as well as the IF board is to HELP eachother.