This is my first post! I'm beginning Clomid tonight and this is all new to me. I'm feeling nervous! We're doing what the doc calls a "clomid challenge" to see how I respond, before we proceed to ivf.
My husband has a vasectomy, and I'm 38 so the advice was to *not* proceed with a reverse vasectomy (it has been 10 years since operation) and go straight to ivf.
I'm happy to have found this board!
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
Welcome! Why is the doctor putting you on Clomid if you're going straight to IVF? I'm not sure I see the point.
ETA - and good luck TTC!
pear / 1531 posts
@swedishfish: I think some doctors do it to have an idea of how the patient will respond to stims so that they can get the dose about right? Or even whether to proceed with ivf?
@Lilamo: welcome! I am pregnant with an ivf baby!
cherry / 106 posts
Well it's something they call a "clomid challenge"... and on day 10 after I finish the four days of Clomid they measure hormone levels to see how I respond. I guess they will know how to better proceed with ivf stuff with this information. It's all new to me!
cherry / 106 posts
Oh, it's so nice to talk to people about this! My husband and I aren't really talking to many friends or family about it yet...
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
Welcome!
I did Clomid a couple months before IVF. For me it wasn't that bad of an experience. I didn't have any side effects.
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
@raintreebee: hmmm, I guess it could be helpful but I wouldn't want to use Clomid if there wasn't a chance of getting pregnant while on it.
@Lilamo: I had an IVF baby in June!
cherry / 106 posts
@Leialou: That is encouraging to hear. Fingers crossed for no side effects!
cherry / 106 posts
@swedishfish: Congratulations! Oh man, it's so encouraging to hear. I'll have a billion questions for everyone once we're further along in the process.
grapefruit / 4703 posts
@Lilamo: welcome! I don't have any IRL friends who have been through any fertility treatments, so this community has been a life saver for me. Good luck with the Clomid! I was on it for 5 months and didn't have any side effects except for a few headaches.
honeydew / 7463 posts
@Lilamo: Welcome and good luck! I have been on HB for a while, but only in the last couple of months started the journey to IVF. I went straight from naturally TTC to IVF like *that*, so its been quite a ride. I'm starting my injectables tomorrow night. Yikes! Nothing like pumping yourself full of hormones two nights before you cook your first Thanksgiving dinner for your parents and your in-laws! 
Glad to have another IVF newbie and I'll help in any way I can along the way.
cherry / 106 posts
Oh, thank you everyone. This makes me so happy. Yes Sweetiepie, trying something new before our 1st Thanksgiving with the family is an ADVENTURE. ha!
pomelo / 5000 posts
@Lilamo: hello, and welcome! I look forward to hearing how the Clomid challenge goes for you. The women here have been a wonderful source of information and support, and I know you'll find it to be the same.
pomelo / 5093 posts
Welcome! I did four rounds of clomid to conceive my daughter. I had some crummy side effects each time, but none too awful. It was very worth it! Good luck with your challenge.
honeydew / 7916 posts
@Lilamo: This is where they measure your FSH at the end of the Clomid, right? Wishing you luck! I have high FSH/low AMH and IVF didn't work for us partly because of my low response but everything worked out in the end.
kiwi / 533 posts
Good luck!! I finished my last pill of 100mg clomid last Friday. It really wasn't bad at all. I think the only thing kicking my butt is feeling nauseous every morning. I am only on cycle day 10. We have been "saving up" until cycle days 12,14, 16.. to make sure we don't miss my ovulation =).
I also started those dreadful OPKs this morning to see where I am at.
and the wait begins....
cherry / 106 posts
Well I just took my second dose. So far so good! No major side effects yet.
pomelo / 5093 posts
@mrs bunchy: My successful protocol was 100mg days 4-8. I did not ovulate on 50mg, but did each time on 100mg.
eggplant / 11408 posts
Hi, welcome! I never had to take Clomid, but we're really glad to have you here 
kiwi / 563 posts
Good luck! I just started clomid last night and am nervous about it too. I've had two girlfriends who did it, and had minimal side effects, so here's hoping it goes well for both of us!
pomelo / 5000 posts
I wanted to add that I took Clomid for one cycle, 50 mg. It worked in terms of ovulation, but it totally wiped out my uterine lining after just one dose. I think I could say I was a little more emotional, but nothing terrible.
cherry / 106 posts
Well I finished the 100mg round of Clomid. I had some side effects... irritability, hot flashes, insomnia. I get my results today or tomorrow. If all goes well, we'll start ivf either January or February.
I'm curious... for those that went through ivf, if you chose one or two embryos to implant. Of course, our decision will also be based off of more information we have at that point. But dang, that is hard one! We have two children (my stepkids) and we want one baby. But...so many "what ifs" are involved.
Lots of emotions and decisions wrapped up in this process that is for sure!
honeydew / 7916 posts
@LittleLashesToes: My FSH was 9.6 when we started testing/treatment a year ago and went up from there.
@Lilamo: I don't know if you ever found the answer to your question about how many embryos to transfer, but the ASRM has guidelines about this here:
http://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/News_and_Publications/Practice_Guidelines/Guidelines_and_Minimum_Standards/Guidelines_on_number_of_embryos(1).pdf
Those are maximum limits, but it might give you some sense of what your doctor might recommend. We felt strongly about only transferring one but when we got to transfer day and only had 2 so-so quality day 4 embryos, the RE recommended transferring both, which was in line with the guidelines.
cherry / 106 posts
@spaniellove: Thank you for this. I think a lot of the decision will come down to how many embryos we have and the quality. Many of my friends insist "just do two, just do two, " but it's a huge decision for us. We feel strongly about only having one, but...when it comes down to the final decision, I'm not sure.
honeydew / 7916 posts
@Lilamo: I think when/if you get closer to doing this, they should be able to sit down with you and have a more detailed discussion about balancing all the risks. It is definitely about your individual situation.
cherry / 106 posts
@spaniellove: Definitely! I'm trying to not worry about things 5 steps ahead (which I do. a lot). Implanting two is commonplace in the office we're working with. And you are required to have a meeting with the head doctor if you want only one.
nectarine / 2806 posts
@spaniellove: I didn't know 9.6 was considered high. Mine is 8.58, which my doctor considers normal.
honeydew / 7916 posts
@LittleLashesToes: Technically 9.6 is at the border of the normal range, but a lot of REs will flag a number like that for more testing. My AMH was very low and my antral follicle count was also very low, so when you look at it together it was hard to say my FSH was normal.
nectarine / 2806 posts
@spaniellove: I'm curious to see what my RE will say. I haven't had my AMH or antral follicle count tested. My OBGYN doesn't test for those. Anyway, you give me hope!!
cherry / 106 posts
Next step: hysteroscopy on December 30. If all is well, we start round 1 of IVF in February. I'm gathering more information on how to prepare my body (and mind!). Are there any advice tidbits out there?
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
persimmon / 1085 posts
@Lilamo: I recommend acupuncture (if affordable for you) the day before and after the embryo transfer. while I will never know if it actually did help, I did get pregnant so it's worth a shot! Worth checking out! I had two hysteroscopies, so let me know if you have any questions. I highly recommend advil one hour before (if they didn't already tell you that) to help with any pain. Valium helps, too, if your doc gives a script for that. Good luck!
cherry / 106 posts
@Jenn23: Congratulations and thank you for the advice! I will definitely use acupuncture! We're spending so much on ivf, what is another couple hundred dollars. ha! eeek.
Thank you for the advice for the hysteroscopy!
persimmon / 1085 posts
@Lilamo: That's the way my husband and I looked at it, too. IVF cost us so many thousands, that it seemed totally worth it to shell out a few hundred for the acupuncture. It forced me to relax at least and made me think more positive thoughts, so I liked it. Just make sure whomever you see, have experience in fertility acupuncture! There are only certain "spots" that the needles should go with regards to your abdomen, especially the day after the transfer). Just be sure to read up on that and make sure it is with someone who has that knowledge and experience!
cherry / 106 posts
I had to start taking a birth control pill before my hysteroscopy and also will take it leading up the ivf medication. I'm on the 5th day of Cryselle and I hate it!!! I feel awful- heart racing, moody, feel puffy and bloated, headaches, insomnia. Clomid was nothing compared to this! I've contacting my nurse to see about switching.
I know from my past I'm extremely sensitive to bc pills. What have you taken? Any particular brands you've had good experience with? I know everyone is different but... man. Icky!
persimmon / 1085 posts
I can't remember the pill I took before my IVF cycle, but I have had bad side effects with certain pills in the past. But as you said everyone is different, so it really is just trial and error. Sorry you are feeling so miserable! How much longer do you need to take this one? I hope you can switch!
grapefruit / 4703 posts
@Lilamo: I just stopped taking Apri for the cycle before my IVF. The only symptoms I had was some breakthrough spotting, but I'm not too sensitive to BCP. Good luck!
cherry / 106 posts
Well the hysteroscopy went well. It didn't hurt as much as I was expecting! Plus my nurse practitioner is going to put me on some birth control with less estrogen. So all is well. We put our deposit down for March IVF!
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