What if clomid doesn’t work? - Fertility Network UK

Fertility Network UK

56,397 members59,746 posts

What if clomid doesn’t work?

Materialbarbie profile image
15 Replies

****UPDATE* period came so looks like cycle 4 of clomid it goes😩****

Hi guys,

Just sat here on my 3rd round of clomid slowly accepting that I don’t think this cycle has worked! I’m cycle day 29 today period isn’t due for 9 more days but have such awful cramps and spotting, so sure it’s my period and nothing to get my hopes up with😩!!

Just tried to have a google but couldn’t see what step would be next(I like to be prepared) if clomid is making me ovulate but I’m not falling pregnant?! After all my cycles of clomid what would they try next?! I have pcos and do not ovulate naturally so I’m just think ahead as to what they would do xx

Written by
Materialbarbie profile image
Materialbarbie
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
15 Replies
Saya85 profile image
Saya85

Hiya

Don't despair - it's good that you're actually ovulating on clomid -

Do you know that for sure ? I.e have they scanned you or done a day 21 progesterone test?

They may increase the dose of clomid if not.

They may also try letrazole next - similar to clomid but works in a different way

Have they tried you with Metformin in the meantime ?

Sometimes it's just a chance thing- were not meant to be fertile every month I.e not every egg or embryo is actually viable

Supplementing with vitamins and making sure your levels are optimal is a good way to give you the best change if good egg quality

Failing all of that they may try IUI as you are ovulating but by inserting the sperm into the womb it may help the fertilisation process. Have they actually checked your partner with full semen analysis ?

Sometimes we ovulate earlier or later than predicted so might be worth checking where you are on the next cycle

Failing all of that IVF may be the next try - fairly good success rates for PCOS as we usually have lots of eggs and follicles

Have they tested your AMH for ovarian reserve ?

Materialbarbie profile image
Materialbarbie in reply toSaya85

Hey Saya85, hope you are doing okay at the moment, thinking of you a lot❤️!

I know it’s a good sign I’ve ovulated, they checked my progesterone blood levels from day 21 this cycle and said they were perfect and really high! The first month was the same however I didn’t ovulate on the second month which is why they kept a bit of a closer eye on my results this time round to make sure I didn’t need a dose change but it looked perfect! Just I had a lady infection so wasn’t able to baby dance as much as we would have hoped too😩! Still the recommended amount by our clinic tho!

My hubby has had his sperm tested and all is great with that they said! It’s just my body not ovulating that is the issue they said, I don’t think they’ve checked ovarian reserve for awhile so I could ask about that while I’m there! Have to go in in 2 weeks for more blood forms and swabs(joy)! I’m currently on meformin only 1 a day tho so they could always up that to help me, logically I know this I just panic myself and feel like it’s not going to happen! I’m taking the usually daily vitamins recommended by my clinic and eating healthier too! Maybe fourth time lucky?! 🤞🏼 Thanks so much for letting me know the other things they may use! I’ve heard of letrazole! So wonder if they may go down that route if after my next few month on clomid nothing happens! Xxx

Saya85 profile image
Saya85 in reply toMaterialbarbie

Thank you 😌 we had our scan and pregnancy test and both confirmed we have miscarried...thankfully no medical management needed so I'm just looking forward to getting back on track after I bleed.

Aww that's great news @perfect ovulation. Maybe this infection didn't help this time but onwards and upwards !

I never ovulated on any dose of clomid ! But I know plenty of women who conceived with it

So I really do think it will happen for you xx

One last thing is to make sure you have had your thyroid checked

TSH needs to be below 2.5 when TTC

Not sure if I mentioned this to you before. Quite common with pcos issues and can take couple months to settle so worth asking your doctor to check if they haven't in the last 3-6months

Really hoping for the best xx

P.s. Metformin can cause vit b12 deficiency although you are on a lower dose still worth monitoring your levels. Also check folate vit D and iron&ferritin

If you're already supplementing folic acid and b12 it may mask a deficiency in your results but please don't accept 'normal' from your doctors

Get a print out of your results and check where they are in the ranger you want to be optimal or at least in upper third of most vitamin ranges

Materialbarbie profile image
Materialbarbie in reply toSaya85

Aw bless you, I wish you nothing but the best once you can get back on track just look after yourself and heal❤️!

Aw Thankyou so much I do hope this is all it needs! Trying to be extra healthy this month so we can give it a good go 2019! Hehe.

Ooo yes I’ve not had that checked for awhile so it is worth a check! And ahhh I’ll get my consultant to look into all that! Like i say I’m there in 2 weeks so can ask lots of questions. Thanks so much for giving me pointers on what to ask and look out for! Thank you so much for all your help it really means a lot. You are so kind❤️! Xx

Saya85 profile image
Saya85 in reply toMaterialbarbie

Happy to help 😌

After the struggle it's taken me to regain my health and having to fight and research and investigate every last thing over the past 6 years if I can give anyone pointers to save them the heartbreak of failures and no answer then I'm more than happy to do so.

Do make sure you cross every box you can and I pray it works smoothly for you 🙂

Thank you for your kind words too- means a lot. Couldn't do it without you guys on here x

Star15 profile image
Star15

Hi, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries at the start of the year after we’d been trying for a second baby for some time. We conceived naturally the first time so I must’ve been ovulating but maybe it wasn’t every month, don’t know, I had long cycles so it was hard to work out when I’d ovulated if I had at all. I had five rounds of Clomid, unfortunately none were successful, but was lucky enough to fall pregnant from our first round of IVF. I thought Clomid was going to be the answer and was upset every time it hadn’t worked. Do you know how many rounds of Clomid you might have? I know it does work for lots of people and is obviously cheaper and less invasive than IVF. Anyway, don’t know if this is helpful at all but just wanted to share my story about what we did next after Clomid x

Materialbarbie profile image
Materialbarbie in reply toStar15

Thankyou so much that’s super helpful! So glad ivf was successful for you! How did you find ivf in general? And I have 6 rounds of clomid so I’ll be going into my fourth cycle now! Hopefully something good happens in the next two cycles at least but just want to be prepared for if it doesn’t because I thought it would work first cycle in all honesty! One of my friends had it and it worked first time for them and she was filling me with such hope, but I suppsoe everyone is different xxx thanks so much xxx

Star15 profile image
Star15 in reply toMaterialbarbie

No worries 😃 I can really relate to how you’re feeling - I was so sure that Clomid was going to work the first round and was so gutted when it didn’t. I guess my expectations changed as the months went on, which I think must be a self-preservation thing - it’s so hard to hope then be disappointed but at the same time it’s really important to try and stay positive, such a difficult balance!

I found the IVF process fine really, I’d done injections for trigger shots each round of Clomid so had got quite used to giving myself injections but obviously there are a lot more with IVF! To be honest it was the logistics of needing to be at lots of appointments that got a bit tricky and trying to juggle that with our son and work. I’d be very happy to talk to you about it all in more detail in future if you’d like but for now it sounds as though giving the Clomid more chances is the way forward 😃 Best of luck and do get in touch if you have any questions x

Materialbarbie profile image
Materialbarbie in reply toStar15

That’s what I’m struggling with! Trying to be positive but still not get my hopes up too high! And ahh that’s what I’m dreading the needles! I haven’t got a phobia but I pass out if I don’t lie down with needles, hubby has said he’ll gladly do it for me tho while I’m laid bless him(if it comes to that)!

My work has been great with my fertility apps! Can’t fault them!

Aw Thankyou so much. I shall stay in touch that would be super helpful if it does come to that! Thanks so much xx

Star15 profile image
Star15 in reply toMaterialbarbie

It’s such a rollercoaster this whole thing. You still have time on Clomid and then other options so try to think positively. It’s good your husband could do the injections for you if needed, and great your work have been good too! Always happy to answer any questions/listen if you need to offload! X

Materialbarbie profile image
Materialbarbie in reply toStar15

Thanks so much you are so kind! ❤️ Hope everything is going good for you xx

So sorry to hear your period arrived, never nice 💔 But it’s another opportunity to get pregnant ✨ I’ve heard of many ladies who feel on 5th or 6th cycle of clomid. Also to say I was offered ovary drilling after I had a bad reaction on my 4 th round of clomid unexplained pelvic pain which I know now is endometriosis ( originally my fertility doctor thought I had PCO) I was offered ; private IVF ( we couldnt get funded) HSG to get my tubes or a laparoscopy ( which is a more detailed investigation) we chose a laparoscopy the best decision we made. He did a laparoscopy checked my tubes which were clear , looked at my ovaries declared them normal so didn’t drill them (!) & found & treated some endometriosis. Apparently by having ovaries drilled can make you ovulate up to 9 months. It’s nice because there is no awful side effects. After my third lap ( endometriosis grew more after my miscarriage) I took a round of clomid ( fertility doctor said he was happy for me to try clomid again) & fell, I’m nearly 19 weeks. That’s definitely another opinion for you ❤️ I always felt better knowing we had other options available & one way or another we’d get our baby. You can do this ❤️❤️❤️ wishing you lots of luck xoxo

Materialbarbie profile image
Materialbarbie in reply to

Thankyou so much for your lovely words! They’ve really helped try to boost me(got sent home from work as my hormones are all over and I can’t stop crying, so embarrassing!). So glad to hear of all the options that are there! I’m going to just ask about stuff when I see my consultant in 2 weeks and see what he says too. It’s teally nice to get all of your girls input on things! I’ve heard of ovarian drilling and I do think that sounds a postive route but I know it’s not done a lot now is it?! I had HSG test which showed no blockages and I’ve had so many scans and he’s said everything looks great it’s just me not ovulating but now I am ovulating just worried if I have a problem implanting or maybe it’s just luck! So happy to hear you are19 weeks hope you are feeling well❤️!

I know in the end we all get our babies some way and the longer process just makes it much more loved and wanted! It’s just a bumpy ride along the way xxxx

Prettypender18 profile image
Prettypender18 in reply to

Hey Jess1981 I’m so new to all of this... what exactly is having your ovaries drilled?

in reply toPrettypender18

Hi.

I never had ovarian drilling but had 3 laparoscopys to treat endometriosis, so cant advise on the ovarian drilling.

Try visiting verywellhealth.com>ovariand... I hope this explains it better, assuming I done the link right!

Generally you are given 6 months worth of clomid to induce ovulation; they can change dose & add additional medication to it dependent on your body’s response.

If these fail or you react badly to meds they can offer you a laparoscopy & still your ovaries to boost ovulation. My fertility doctor said it can last up to 9 months.

I didn’t need it as he deemed my ovaries as normal endometriosis was my issue. Luckily after my third laparoscopy & 1 cycle of re starting clomid to “boost” things I conceived & am 28 weeks pregnant. After a 7 year struggle i can’t believe it happened for us!!!

I see you are on clomid, I hope it works for you & gives you happy news soon ❤️✨ xoxo

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Clomid

Due to start Clomid on my next cycle to see if we have any luck with this, a little about me- I am...

Clomid??

Hi ladies. So it’s looking like it will now be the end of the year before I am able to actually...
Joy35 profile image

Clomid Eligibility

Does anybody know how long you have to be be ttc in order to get clomid on the NHS? We have been...
Bambi2626 profile image

Clomid

Hi everyone, I had my first consultation with the fertility clinic last month and I was hoping to...
CharlS28 profile image

Clomid confusion

Hi everyone, I think I have totally confused myself with when I'm supposed to see my Dr and be...
Isa84 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Claire_FNUK profile image
Claire_FNUKAdministrator
JA-fnuk profile image
JA-fnukPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.