Clomid questions....

[maximbella]

Hi ladies! Wondering if you can help answer these questions for me. I've been rx clomid 50mg on CD5-9 and supposed to start in a few days, but have the following questions. Atomic, can you please help?


· Does Clomid actually help improve egg quality, or does it just help release more eggs, increasing the probability that a higher quality egg(s) exist to be fertilized?

· If Clomid helps release eggs, does Clomid at all increase likelihood of any birth defects, leaning disabilities, or any other issues, from releasing eggs that would not have otherwise been released or released at such time?

· For a person who is already ovulating, what is the probability of having multiples? Are there ways when taking Clomid to materially reduce the risk of multiples?

[Georgia_Peach]

Clomid for me first round ( the month I conceived) I took 50mg. It did not produce more than 1 viable egg for me but it grew a bit bigger earlier in cycle. This might be exactly what you need maxim bc of your super long cycles! I ovulated on day 15 and had a mature size 19 follicle on my right side.
I also took trigger shot in conjunction to help guarantee the egg was released.
Hope this helps

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[maximbella]

Thanks Robin, so reassuring to read that! My OB didn't say anything about monitoring follicles or anything, should I be worried?? Do you have a link to your sway?

[Georgia_Peach]

I was definitely monitored by an RE. I was having internal ultrasounds every other day to monitor the growth of follicles. Not sure how it works without the ultrasounds.?

Here's my 2nd successful sway link
Robin2014 TTC GIRL SWAY (http://www.genderdreaming.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58490)

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[maximbella]

Thanks, Robin!! So excited to see you're having a girl! :)

[XXforhubby]

I too was monitored by my RE while I was taking Clomid. However, I took 50mg for one cycle and then was bumped up to 100mg when I didn't respond to the first dose. I only produced one viable egg all three times. Ironically, my BFP cycle I produced two eggs that were fertilized and one vanished by 10 weeks. My RE said that it was doubtful the Clomid the previous cycle played a role. He said it was just a fluke.

🤞🏻for you Maxim!!


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[emoji178]Baby Girl [emoji254]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji178]

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[maximbella]

Thanks xx! Hmmm, sounds like you guys are being monitored with an RE...wonder if the OB doesn't do that? I was thinking that sounded kind of "off" to be not be. Augh....

[Burakoam]

Here to assure you Maxim that i was seen by a RE like they were but he didnt feel the need to monitor me via ultrasound..i went in once and it was only because i was due to ovulate but the face wasnt going solid and so i went in so they could see if i was responding to the medication at all..and found a nice large egg that later became my DD3 :) (i also ovulated later that night/next morning funny enough)

You just need to be aware of pain including painful bloating..maybe even excessive bloating that isnt entirely painful i would get in to have an ultrasound to make sure you arent over producing eggs and having a bad reaction. I was on 100 MG and i produced one very good egg...try not to stress too much about multiples, though you are at an increased risk...you can always schedule an ultrasound around day 16-18 to check on your eggs!...then you are at least prepared if there are multiple eggs about to pop that your chances are higher..if you just have the one really good egg like me or Robin the change of that becoming twins is highly unlikely except in the case of that egg splitting and becoming identical.

also my clomid baby was the easiest most happy going of my 4...and extremely intelligent to boot. met all her milestones early and continues to be ahead of her peers in everything except height and weight (she is a shorty with a high metabolism LOL)

[maximbella]

Thanks so much, that makes a lot of sense! I think I'll start and have him do an u/s to just see what's going on. If I am doing cd5-9, when should I ask for the u/s??


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[atomic sagebrush]

1)We honestly do not know for sure. There are a lot of theories and beliefs that it does improve egg quality but I do not feel it's been at all proven either way. What some say (again, unproven) is that it makes a "stronger ovulation" meaning the egg emerges from follicle in a better way making for a better egg and also a better follicle left behind to then start making prog. But how true that is, I cannot say.

It definitely DOES make people who are not ovulating, ovulate, though.

2)Clomid has been extensively studied and found ONLY when taken during pregnancy does it contribute in possible way to anything bad. This is why you need to take a pregnancy test the day you start the Clomid even if you are 110% sure you are not pregnant.

It has NOTHING to do with immature eggs being released. It makes the eggs mature, and then your body releases them normally. An immature egg would not be fertilizable.

3)The odds of multiples on Clomid are 8-10%. This has been studied and is a number across the entire population, I cannot speak to any one person's individual odds. Some people think taking it CD 5-9 lowers odds of multiples; personally I've seen multiples conceived on days 5-9 plus additionally I feel it has lower odds of conception than 3-7 does and that is why I tend to prefer 3-7. But that is up to you to decide.

[atomic sagebrush]

Thanks xx! Hmmm, sounds like you guys are being monitored with an RE...wonder if the OB doesn't do that? I was thinking that sounded kind of "off" to be not be. Augh....

Most people are not monitored on Clomid by either an RE OR OB. It is not "off" not to monitor, just a different way of thinking.

I am a bit soured on monitoring since the only triplets we've ever had was in a woman who was being monitored. She was told she had one follicle and to TTC but she had three. So I am now wondering what is the point of monitoring and if it's even reliable.

[maximbella]

Thank you, atomic! These answers are helpful and put me at ease!

[Burakoam]

Maxim i took it cd 5-9 as they are prescribing it for you and i went in on cd 16, as i had expected for some silly reason i would ovulate by cd 14 since my cycles were 28 days long...so when i hadnt had a solid smiley as of the morning of CD 16 they got me in..with how long your cycles are id say you should at least have an idea of whats going on around cd 16-18 if you want to set up an ultrasound for then

[maximbella]

Thanks B! I spoke with the OB this morning and he said he won't do any type of u/s. Not sure how I feel about that, but I'm going to go along with his plan.

[maximbella]

(Especially with the triplet example atomic)!


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[atomic sagebrush]

Oh and yes you absolutely can O on a different weird day. A few docs (I think one of these was yours, Burk?? correct me if I'm wrong) have been actively telling their patients they will for sure O on CD 14 which is competely untrue and not even supported by any scientific fact whatsoever. MOST will ovulate an average of 5-10 days after the last dose of Clomid.

[Burakoam]

Yes atomic, mine seemed certain with my very regular cycles that with the clomid i would pop the egg on cd 14..reality was cd 17-18

Maxim unless twins run on one side of either of your families i really dont think you should fret too much about multiples. If you really want one more baby i would just focus on doing what you need to do to conceive at all with a good girl sway obviously, and worry about the twin + aspect only if it comes to pass.

[maximbella]

Thanks so much!! Twins do run in my family - my oldest sister had a twin (not living) and we have others in extended family, but not sure that would mean it would mean I would have twins 🤞


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[shopjule]

Hi I am new to this site and to swaying in general. I'm a little late to the game because I just found out I am pregnant but had some questions about the possible likelihood of baby being a girl...

I was on Clomid 5-9 50 and it was my 3rd month on it
Was on Metformin 1000mg daily (but had stopped it for a week and then started week before ovulation again)
Also taking baby aspirin and Vit D 5000iu

I also know I likely ovulated from my left ovary due to week before Annual GYN visit saying that was dominant one.

Last thing is my progesterone was 58 and HCG 125 at 15dpo and 317 at 17 dpi.

I didn't realize how consuming my worry for wanting a girl would be! I feel ridiculous :( was not expecting this

[Burakoam]

Feel free to post your own thread for more input shop but I feel you have more factors for blue than pink. Clomid sways pink and taking longer to conceive in general usually sways pink however vitamin D in that excess would sway blue and I think the aspirin too but atomic can correct me with that. Progesterone doesn't mean anything and neither does your hcg other than the baby seems very health with both numbers you have given! I had really high hcg with DD3 -!: lower end of normal with DD4..high progesterone with DD3 thanks to clomid and barely functional progesterone with DD4.. clomid sways pink but metaformin could sway blue because it stabilizes your blood sugars and that's what boys like.. girls like really high or really low sugars..what it comes down to in order to determine what you technically 'swayed' for even unintentionally is how you ate and how you lived life. Do you lift weights? Run? Are you active or more of a couch potatoe? What is your diet like? What are the main things you eat? Are you on the thin side or heavier side or somewhere in between?


DD3 was a right ovary right side of my uterus baby and DD4 was my right ovary left side of uterus baby.. you will find lots of boy moms on here had opposites of ramzi theory too (which you are in theory using)

[maximbella]

I just wanted to update and let you now that DH wants to hold off on starting clomid tomorrow for this cycle. He feels that we haven't been trying long enough to warrant medications. He's giving me more time than I originally asked for (remember that we were only originally trying for one month), but I'm not going to lie and say that I'm not super disappointed. Each month that goes by just stresses me out more, but I have to respect his decision so he doesn't pull the plug on me. He said that he's open to it if it doesn't happen "in a few months"... :tissue:

[maximbella]

Also not going going to pretend that I don't want to take it anyway behind his back lol...but I won't. Having the rx at the house doesn't help, though.

[atomic sagebrush]

You are a bigger woman than I. Good luck for this month!!

[maximbella]

Might not be as of tomorrow... ;)

[Burakoam]

Im giving you horrible advice and its honestly up to you wether you take it or not..but id still take the clomid. id tell him you threw it out if he asks where it went. Only reason i say this is because clomid has such good results with LE diet for pink, and thats what you are swaying...I didnt even give hubby the option of wether i took medication or not. BUT we had been trying for 7 months and he knew i had an appointment..we just didnt talk about it..i think for some men they feel inept or inadequate if their woman needs medication to conceive even if it has to do with HER eggs and not HIS sperm...i had already finished the clomid before he had ever even known i was on it.

Gotta say though when you first started TTC i didnt like hubby's attitude of it was his way or the highway and i am glad he is open to more time at least to make you happy because that should be how a marriage works, for both parties, and imo makes him a good guy.

[XXforhubby]

Max- I wasn't sure I was going to tell my DH about taking Clomid either. Long story short, my prolactin levels were really high and I needed medication to lower my levels. Bromocriptine wasn't allowed, because I was still breastfeeding a lot at the time. My RE recommended we try Clomid, since it is prescribed in men that have elevated prolactin levels. It worked after one cycle, and my delayed ovulation was fixed! My DH knew about that cycle, but I didn't tell him about the other 2 cycles [emoji6]. I figured that it wasn't a big deal, since I was prescribed 15 tablets.

Ultimately you have to decide what you are comfortable with, and what you want to do. 🤞🏻[emoji8]!!


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[maximbella]

B and xx, thank you...and trust me, I would be lying if I said that I didn't think about doing it behind his back. Like really, really considered it. But I just couldn't do it. I wanted to, BADLY, but I just didn't feel right about it. We tell each other (mostly) everything, and it's just one of those things that I figured if I didn't tell him, I would be the one that ends up with twins and he would know and never forgive me for doing it behind his back, ykwim? We had a very in depth conversation about it and we both agreed to try one more month (this month) as is, and then try clomid/femera next cycle. My OB got me in with a RE this coming Friday, so we'll see what she says and what she recommends. It took me literally MONTHS to convince him to try for one month, then one month turned into a few months, and I'm so happy that he hasn't pulled the plug since he feels very complete with our family as is. Would love to hear any recommendations for the RE appointment, if you have any. I'm not sure what to expect...

[maximbella]

Also, should I bring him to the appt or not?? That's def one of those times that I would prefer that he not know the details... [emoji51]


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[atomic sagebrush]

Twins are conceived naturally too. The reason I mention this is let's say you get pregnant naturally and conceive twins. Then what? Is he going to accuse you of taking Clomid behind his back? I just don't want you to have any blowback here. We get a fair number of twins without Clomid, just from swaying alone.

[atomic sagebrush]

Also, should I bring him to the appt or not?? That's def one of those times that I would prefer that he not know the details... [emoji51]


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my husband stresses me out at doc visits personally. I feel like I have to entertain him and if the doc is running late he gets testy about it.

[maximbella]

Thanks atomic, good point. You're totally right, I just don't have a great poker face and couldn't lie to him if he asked if i took it behind his back, you know? And I won't be bringing him to the appointment, he's the same way and stresses me out if it's not on time. And this way I can also process the info and filter what he needs to know going forward. That said, we will be doing medicated next cycle and he's onboard for it, so I'm excited to just already get on with this month (already expecting a bfn)...


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[atomic sagebrush]

No, that's not my point, my point is that if you do end up conceiving twins naturally and that may be something he's going to spring on you in the future (accusation that you took the Clomid) best to remind him of that reality now and make sure he knows you have not taken it!

(I know sounds paranoid but I"ve heard about every story in the book on this site by now)

[maximbella]

Of course!! He sees the Walgreens bag with the clomid inside still unopened. If it happens naturally, he would be excited and fully embrace it...he just has a high preference for naturally conceiving just one. We also live in NYC and growing our family from 4 to 6 would be a vast shift in lifestyle for us. Getting around with 2 kids is already difficult at times, and I won't even start on the cost of private schools (and preschool!). I suppose if we lived elsewhere he might feel different?


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[XXforhubby]

Nope, don't count on it, haha! My DH was SO scared of conceiving twins (we did have a vanishing twin with this pregnancy). We live in Illinois, and my DH was so worried about having a 4th child. Worried about paying for college, etc. Now that we are pregnant, he's calmed down but I don't think living elsewhere would ease is mind. I think only time will do that.

🤞🏻for you!!


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[emoji178]Baby Girl [emoji254]EDD 9/30/2017 [emoji178]

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[maximbella]

Thanks, xx...and that's true. For me it's more emotionally driven, for him it's definitely more financially driven. I have to say that I'm coming around a bit now and with our age gap, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have twins (if my body could handle it!). My friend told me yesterday that she is expecting twins after IVF. I swear this whole ttc journey is such an emotional roller coaster for me with so many different twists and turns!

[maximbella]

Hi ladies! Unfortunately, I'm back to square one....I'm 11dpo today, negative hpt's, temp took a dive today, and coupled with cramping, I'm sure AF is on her way in the next day or two. The good news is that I have clomid after AF starts, which I am excited about. My RE wants me to take 50mg on CD 5-9...should I stick with that for the first try, or do you advise that I do 3-7? Also, should I switch to e3d instead of e4d? I'll also plan to do 1-2 attempts at positive opk. Also, a friend from the tww advised to start Robitussin with this cycle. Can you please advise on how to use that?

Also, any other necessary clomid advice would be greatly appreciated... I would really like the best odds of conception and open to hearing any good/bad experiences/suggestions! Should I drop anything else that I'm doing that might be interfering (coffee, wine, exercise, etc.)? I'm at a loss as to why this is taking me this many cycles and wondering if I'm doing something to work against myself? The past 6+ months have been an emotional roller coaster and I'm praying that this will do the trick for me. Thanks ladies!

[maximbella]

Also, what time of day did you take clomid, am or pm?


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[atomic sagebrush]

I prefer 3-7 but it's up to you. I feel like we still see twins with 5-9 and additionally it's lower odds of conception but totally at your discretion.

I do not want you to do both e3d and also more attempts at pos OPK. If you plan to add attempts at pos OPK stick with e4d.

Robitussin probably sways blue, if you'd like to use it then use just guanefesin kind, start 3-5 days after your last dose of Clomid and continue on till 1-3 days after you think you've ovulated. (kind of a more or less thing)

Take Clomid at night, you'll sleep thru side effects.

Please try to keep in mind that at least some of those months you were not in with well timed attempts. so not all those months were really created equal!!

[atomic sagebrush]

I prefer 3-7 but it's up to you. I feel like we still see twins with 5-9 and additionally it's lower odds of conception but totally at your discretion.

I do not want you to do both e3d and also more attempts at pos OPK. If you plan to add attempts at pos OPK stick with e4d.

Robitussin probably sways blue, if you'd like to use it then use just guanefesin kind, start 3-5 days after your last dose of Clomid and continue on till 1-3 days after you think you've ovulated. (kind of a more or less thing)

Take Clomid at night, you'll sleep thru side effects.

Please try to keep in mind that at least some of those months you were not in with well timed attempts. so not all those months were really created equal!!

[maximbella]

Thanks, Atomic! What is the difference in taking it earlier?

Would you add in the Robitussin this cycle with clomid? Or should I try without? I'm planning to do e4d plus 2 attempts at positive opk.

Out of curiosity, do you remember which month you didn't think I got good timing in? I've tried to do e4d plus positive opk, and want to make sure that I'm not missing any time whatsoever this month. Getting down to business! ;)

[atomic sagebrush]

You may experience side effects like hot flashes or upset tummy.

I'd certainly give it a month or two without the guanefesin but that is your discretion.

I remember suggesting that you had another attempt in at least 2 and possibly 3 months and you didn't. I am not saying that as a rebuke in any way, it is totally your choice but at least 2, and I ~believe~ but I am not 100%, three months, I wanted you to have one more attempt than you did.

[maximbella]

Quick update...I got a super faint positive late last night on an OSOM test, and again this morning. Unfortunately, it didn't get darker and I'm thinking it's another chemical. I called the RE this morning and she is going to do some labs, have an ultrasound after O to measure my uterine lining, and she said that she wants me to take Femera instead of clomid, so she is rx that. What days do you recommend taking that?

Thank you for the feedback. So for sure 2 attempts at positive opk, possibly 3? Does that femera equally sway pink even with 3 attempts? It's hard with DH's work schedule to get multiple attempts, especially since he travels a lot, but I'm going to MAKE him do it no matter what this cycle. This needs to be it for us....

[atomic sagebrush]

Femara on same days as Clomid. It's better anyway.

No, I don't want you to have 2 attempts at positive OPK, I want you to do a pattern like e4d (this guards against early or late O) and then additionally be in with another at positive OPK. If you want more attempts than that we can go to SMEP (but that will be possibly even harder with hubby's schedule, unfortunately)

[maximbella]

Okay, so e4d plus one attempt at positive opk. Would the next attempt after positive opk be 4 days from that, or from the previous 4th day?

Someone from the tww group suggested SMEP and I meant to ask you about it! Given the femera, which route would you choose...SMEP or e4d plus +opk?

[atomic sagebrush]

The e4d pattern goes on and on - it's separate from the OPK. Do NOT reset the e4d pattern to line up with the pos OPK, just add the pos OPK onto whatever the e4d pattern is.

I would personally not have you do SMEP until we have tried e4d plus one and Femara for at least a couple months!

[atomic sagebrush]

The e4d pattern goes on and on - it's separate from the OPK. Do NOT reset the e4d pattern to line up with the pos OPK, just add the pos OPK onto whatever the e4d pattern is.

I would personally not have you do SMEP until we have tried e4d plus one and Femara for at least a couple months!

[atomic sagebrush]

The e4d pattern goes on and on - it's separate from the OPK. Do NOT reset the e4d pattern to line up with the pos OPK, just add the pos OPK onto whatever the e4d pattern is.

I would personally not have you do SMEP until we have tried e4d plus one and Femara for at least a couple months!

[maximbella]

Okay, that's what I will do this coming cycle. So if the positive opk falls on the 3rd day of the e4d, then go ahead and have an attempt that evening and again the following night for day 4, right? Even though that's 2 attempts, or that's okay since I need 2 attempts? Just trying to clarify.

My RE called in the femera and I start on CD3 (Sunday).

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes!