Need advice, not ovulating I think :(

[1moregirl]

Why do some women use Clomid? I've seen it a lot here on this website but I don't actually know what it's purpose is. Thanks

[maidentomother]

There are many reasons. Some women need it bc they aren't Oing on their own/lost O due to being too strict on diet/losing too much weight, some women use it bc they have irregular and/or long cycles - often due to PCOS, sometimes caused or exacerbated by swaying. Some of us want to O earlier, possibly release 2 eggs, or improve quality of O. Some of us have short LPs or actual LP defects or low progesterone, all of which Clomid generally fixes. A few of us have a damaged/missing ovary or tube, or a possibly damaged dominant, primary ovary (as in my case), and are hoping to stimulate O from the opposite, undamaged, and/or lazy ovary to improve odds of pregnancy significantly if not dramatically. Some of us have simply been TTC for so long (over a year, or 6 months if 38+) without even a hint of BFP and Clomid/Femara is often used in such cases of 'unexplained infertility'.

And then some are using it purely for swaying purposes bc it is such a good pink sway tactic, though by no means a guarantee or magic bullet. Note that there are some blue swayers on Clomid for some of the aforementioned reasons as well.

Most of us are probably on it for more than one reason. I'm using it primarily bc I O late and have a short LP, have been TTC almost 4 years without ever seeing even a squinter BFP - and 10 of those cycles have been swaying cycles, half with well timed BD, my right, dominant ovary may be damaged and I almost never O from the left on my own, I am concerned about the quality of my O due to (non--TTC, required) meds I'm on, and of course, I certainly don't mind the pink sway bonus!

I would actually prefer to take Femara, or at least have it as an option, as it is likely better for me (fewer serious side effects I'm prone to on Clomid) and it may sway pink even more than Clomid while also having slightly higher odds of conception as it doesn't reduce/prevent fertile CM as Clomid usually does quite aggressively. Unfortunately my dr won't give me it and online pharmacies won't deliver to my country/most of the EU.

[Traci25]

I was just reading about femera, it sounds like positive I couldn't fun if it swayed pink or blue but that's great it sways pink!

[atomic sagebrush]

Hi again Traci.

I concur with what others have said, I doubt your OPK is working. If you're getting EWCM and then AF in a normal, regular time frame the odds are all but 100% you're ovulating.

I woudln't bother charting, I'd start having sex every 4 days (and if hubs is away, then just DTD before he goes and when he gets back) and then you can also do OPK if you want to and try to get in another attempt at positive OPK. OR, you can try to just DTD when you see a lot of EWCM in addition to (not instead of) e4d. At 40, time is not our friend here and after 4 months it's time to move up the schedule a little bit here.

Clomid is also not going to be your best bet at 40 anyway because it can cause egg quality issues for those of us 38 and up.

[atomic sagebrush]

I would try at least another cycle on my own before seeing a doctor or Ob if I was you. Try some different OPK test strips first, the BBTs (more accurate if you take your BbT vaginally than orally) and record it all on Fertility Friend app. You need to take BBT at same time every morning. I usually set alarm for 6.45am so I get it accurate. You mention that you are still getting CM so still sounds like you are Oing - maybe just dodgy OPK strips. Good luck.

What a doctor will tell you when you go in at 40 is basically "you're too old, go home and count your blessings" so I suggest holding off seeing them until we've at lest tried to get it ironed out. They are very dismissive and mean a lot of times, and will tell you that you can't conceive when you totally CAN. I totally think this is just cruddy OPK strips and/or not testing often enough. We can work around it.

[atomic sagebrush]

Wow!! I feel so much better. Yes I have regular periods every 31 days. I did get darker lines so when I temp next month Il take it that that's maybe my O. I missed it this month I was waiting for the pos opk. So next month il give it a shot. I can't say thank you enough I was so worries I was premenopausal!! I was gonna try vitex but maybe il wait a month. Has anyone tried vitex?

DO NOT TAKE VITEX. It is completely not indicated for you at all and it will make matters worse.

[atomic sagebrush]

That helps a ton, I'm gonna hold off this month on vitex I did make ob apt got clomid next month just so I have it scheduled. But I'm hoping with temping il be able to pin point more accurate O. I'm contemplating Ivf I really would love a healthy dd to complete our family but so nervous on such a huge step.

If IVF is an option then do it sooner rthter htan later, but honestly your odds are not going to be stellar (and they will prob. be very discouraging.)

We saw terrible pg rates with vitex for moms over 35 and even worse over 38. I really do not recommend it for you at all.

[1moregirl]

Totally agree with you Atomic. Obstetricians can be very negative and scientific with us older Mums. I wouldn't see one again if I was to fall pregnant again. Good luck Traci and definitely try a diff OPK or just BD every 4 days with a def attem when you notice EWCM, like Atomic says.

[maidentomother]

Traci, if you can get Femara I would probably try BD every 3 days on it (I will be doing this myself next cycle), I think that would give you nice odds of fast, healthy pink conception! Femara is fine for older women, it doesn't have the issues Clomid can often have.

[Traci25]

Thank you all! That's great info. I will forgo vitex and clomid, if I can't concierge next few months il ask for femera I have an amazing ob she conceived her
Last In her 40's so she totally gets it. I'm gonna dtd like atomic
Said and then if bfn go for femera. I did look at Ivf but the results look bad at viable embryos. If I can get a dd i would
Be over the moon but I do have 3 healthy kids
That I feel so blessed with. I adore this site and all the amazing women I feel so blessed to find it! Just to verify femera doesn't decrease quality of eggs?