Clomid shortage in Australia

[purple]

There appears to be a Clomid shortage in Australia currently. I had trouble tracking some down today but did manage to get the last pack at a pharmacy after ringing around several places.

I'm wondering if I should fill my repeat prescription just in case, but then I also don't want to stockpile it and prevent someone else getting the medication (especially someone trying for a first baby)!

From the TGA site
https://www.tga.gov.au/alert/clomifene-clomiphene


24 June 2016
Consumers and health professionals are advised that there is a shortage of clomifene 50 mg tablets (also known as clomiphene), which are marketed in Australia as Clomid and Serophene.

Clomifene is used in the treatment of ovulatory failure in patients who wish to become pregnant.

Clomid is currently experiencing a shortage due to manufacturing issues, and is not expected to be available until 31 December 2016.

Upon further googling, it seems shortages are quite common. Anyway, I thought it would be a good heads up for anyone in Aus wanting to get clomid, just don't leave it to the last minute to find :)

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh goodness, that's too bad!! I'd also be tempted to get it now but it's very thoughtful of you to hold off for the benefit of others. :heart:

I hope they are open to prescibing Femara for you gals!!

[purple]

I think they can import some french clomid when our local supply is low so it means being organized and not waiting to cd2 to fill the prescription :)

[Hopefullmummy]

Hi purple
Good luck with the TTC.

My ob in Victoria gave me a prescription for clomid and Femara incase I can't find clomid. Atomic recommends the Femara so I'll be going with that. He also won't be monitoring to see how many eggs are released. Just a blood test afterwards to see if I've ovulated. What is yours doing ? I know other ladies on here get ultrasounds but is this what's done in oz ? I find it odd that he won't but he is very well known here, some would say the best. Anyway it's not an issue with Femara I guess as the odds of multiples are low. I'm just curious now.

Cheers

[atomic sagebrush]

I suspect that he believes that on 50 mg Clomis it is very, very unusual to have anything beyond twins maximum and it is hugely expensive for people to have to have the monitoring (and also a very huge PITA as well) I agree with his assessment based on my much more limited experience so I suspect he has an observational reason he doesn't do it. For my part, even when people who are being monitored, have released more eggs, it does not mean they are all fertilizable or WILL be fertilized, and I've had a few people who released 4 eggs and did not even get pregnant at all or had singletons so I would bet he's seen this occur often enough so he feels ok doing it that way.

Now some people are given 150-200 mg and then I would bet they'd be coming in for monitoring!! But that is only in people for whom 50 didn't work.

[purple]

Hi hopefullmummy :)

I was seeing a fertility specialist through a fertility clinic and I find that they tend to be more cautious and want to at least monitor the first cycle. With DS1 I saw a different FS and had a monitored cycle and then went back to him when trying for DS2 and he insisted that it be monitored again as things could change. It wasn't as expensive back then but this recent one was quite expensive as medicare doesn't cover a lot of it.

Something I have noticed is friends who got their clomid from Ob's were not monitored. I don't think it is a bad thing when it is 50mg although I know one person who produced 3 eggs with 50mg and had to drop to 25mg but that is rare. I know one other person who did conceive fraternal twins with clomid but I know she was breastfeeding at the time so not sure if that makes a difference too.

Anyway, basically I had the monitored cycle where I went in for several blood tests before ovulation and then had 2 scans and was given a trigger hcg shot which I didn't really need as I was ovulating fine on my own. I think they just follow the standard pattern and don't like to deviate. I also had 2 blood tests after ovulation. Previous monitored cycles involved just 1 ultrasound and 1 blood test so they were a bit more full on and it can be a bit stressful.

I didn't conceive that cycle so I did an unmonitored cycle but came in for bloods after ovulation to check my progesterone levels and they all looked great. I thought I hadn't conceived so I went out searching for more clomid for cycle #3 but before taking it I tested and got a BFP even though I was in the middle of a completely normal period (always test before taking clomid or fermara!).

Good luck! I hope you get a BFP soon!

[Hopefullmummy]

Thank you for the reply ! Good luck to
You too. I hope we all get what or hearts desire. :)

[Hopefullmummy]

I suspect that he believes that on 50 mg Clomis it is very, very unusual to have anything beyond twins maximum and it is hugely expensive for people to have to have the monitoring (and also a very huge PITA as well) I agree with his assessment based on my much more limited experience so I suspect he has an observational reason he doesn't do it. For my part, even when people who are being monitored, have released more eggs, it does not mean they are all fertilizable or WILL be fertilized, and I've had a few people who released 4 eggs and did not even get pregnant at all or had singletons so I would bet he's seen this occur often enough so he feels ok doing it that way.

Now some people are given 150-200 mg and then I would bet they'd be coming in for monitoring!! But that is only in people for whom 50 didn't work.

Thanks atomic. Yes he is very straight to the point and that would definitely be his way of thinking anyway. Even though I'm going with the Femara, I have a tiny little thought in my head about how nice twins would be and then of course reality hits me and I think don't be stupid haha

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes I always wanted twins desperately because my uncles are twins, and then came so close only to lose one, but at the same time I realize that it probably would have killed me LOL and I would not have had my daughter either (just cause I"d never have been ballsy enough to have another baby with 2 year old twins!!)

[Hopefullmummy]

im sorry about the twin you lost. I did read about you saying that before.

Your daughter is beautiful :)

[atomic sagebrush]

Thank you so much!!! While I am still of course sad about the baby I lost, at the same time it really enabled me to help a lot of people because I learned a lot from that experience that I still use every day with you guys. :)