What to Expect with Clomid
There are many types of infertility treatments on the market today. For women who aren't ovulating, there are a number of drugs that are used to try to induce ovulation, thereby helping the couple to be able to conceive. Once such drug that is very popular is called Clomid. On the market now for decades, it has been proven as an effective method for helping infertile couples.
Understanding Clomid
Clomid is given to women orally for approximately three to six months. If the woman is not able to conceive in this length of time, the fertility specialist will usually stop this treatment and look for other ideas for fertility treatments. Clomid is given as 50 mg a day for five days with the dosage increasing over time if the woman doesn't begin to ovulate. If the 50 mg isn't enough, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is often added as well. The doctor will give you the required prescriptions and will explain all of the dosage information to you.
What To Expect with Clomid
Before you can begin to take Clomid, you'll have to do the following things. The beginning of your period is called Day 1. When you start your period, you'll call your fertility specialist's office to schedule an initial ultrasound. This is required before you can begin Clomid. You'll begin the pills around day 3,4 or 5 and will take it once a day for five days. After taking your last Clomid pill, you should ovulate about 5-10 days thereafter. During the time when you think that you are ovulating, you should have intercourse about every other day. Your fertility specialist can be more specific with you, depending on the health of the partner's sperm and other factors. Generally, 4-6 days after, you'll have an ultrasound and blood test done. Then, near the 21st-25th day you'll have your progesterone tested at the office to help the doctor know if you are ovulating. You may also be given progesterone (P4) supplements after ovulating, beginning about three days after you've ovulated. If you don't get your period after this, you'll have a pregnancy test done.
Constant Monitoring
As with most fertility treatments, there is a great deal of intervention that you can expect. While taking Clomid, the doctors must closely monitor you and your cycle. You'll usually have a baseline ultrasound, follicular monitoring with ultrasound and serum E2 levels around days 4 and 6 after the last pill. After ovulating, you can expect a post-coital test. After three to six months on Clomid without a pregnancy, you'll have an ultrasound done to rule out certain problems including luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome. You'll also have laparoscopy to look for any asymptomatic pelvic pathologies.
While this all sounds overwhelming and scary on paper, it is a process that many women experience. Your fertility specialist will walk you through each stage. You need to feel comfortable asking questions to make sure that you fully understand Clomid, and that you are comfortable with this infertility treatment option. Hopefully, Clomid will be the fertility drug that works for you! If it isn't, however, remember that there are other infertility options out there and that you have choices.
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