About Debbi Craig Expertise I am available to answer questions about both primary and secondary infertility diagnosis, testing, many procedures such as HSG, artificial insemination, IUI, IVF, GIFT, medications such as clomid, pergonal, lupron, herbal and natural approaches to increase fertility, and can also offer assistance with how to cope with the diagnosis of infertility.
Experience I have dealt with secondary infertility, done extensive research, and written about infertility for over five years now. I am currently writing about infertility on two different websites, and instruct a course "Introduction to Infertility" online as well.
Publications TTC Dreams - A website created for women and couples that are looking for information about trying to conceive and infertility.
Suite101.com Infertility Topic - All articles written by me about infertility including the emotional, social, physical, and mental aspects that touch individuals, couples, and family and friends.
I have also been published at Beyond Fertility, and was interviewed for an article that was published in The New York Times.
Expert: Debbi Craig Date: 3/23/2004 Subject: Does Clomid cause strange periods?
Question Hi Debbi... thank you for answering my question.
My situation is as follows (with some history).
I am 33 years old. I have wanted a baby for as long as I can remember. When I was 25 and in my first marriage, I sought the assistance of an RE from the Cleveland Clinic because my husband was unable to have normal coitus due to a traumatic injury. The RE recommended IUI by donor. Although he established that I was ovulating, he prescribed Clomid with an profasi trigger. I underwent two rounds of IUI (each with 2 inseminations and follicle monitoring) without success. I became concerned and I had just about every possible fertility test including endo-biopsy, blood work, internal ultrasounds, HSG and laproscopic surgery. The doctor asserted that everything was fine and I resumed trying with another IUI (again 50 mg Clomid and trigger) without success. I quit trying as the doctor wanted to get more aggressive and we were not financially prepared (especially after paying for all that testing!).
Since that time, my marriage ended and I began a new relationship with my current partner of 6 years. For the first year of our relationship we used barrier contraception. From years 2 to 4 1/2 we used the withdrawl method. For the past 2 years we have used no method at all. We average intercourse about 5 to 8 times per month. I feel that we should have had an "accident" by now.
Last year (May 2003) we started actually "trying" to conceive. Again, I am 33 and realize that my chances are lessening each year. I charted my cycles for several months. My partner had a semen analysis. My cycles run between 29 and 32 days. I do have a cycle every month although I do notice that they are lighter the last few years than they were in my early 20's. My temps are lower than average (imho) but I have had new bloodwork by my regular OB and everything is in order with the exception of a very slightly raised testosterone level (very slight...one number above high normal).
This last month I took 100 mg of clomid from days 3 to 7 and appear to have ovulated on cd 19 or 20. I did not have a progesterone test to confirm or internal sonograms. We had intercourse on those days.
On CD 32 I engaged in intercourse and directly after this I experienced light brown spotting. This continued throughout the day and was only lightly apparent when I wiped. I assumed that my cycle was starting and didn't think much of it. I did not spot the next day...and today I am again spotting lightly. Sorry if this is too much information...but it is brown in color, not enough to stain my underware, and only visable as a light brown/dusty rose color when I wipe with white toilet paper.
I have suffered disappointment so much in TTC... and I refuse to start taking HPTs and going through the pain of another failure. I have had slight cramping and all the symptoms of PMS which are maddeningly similar to early pregnancy symptoms. I don't want to test for pregnancy unless I actually have a good chance for something other than disappointment. I have given myself CD 40 as a date I can begin to become hopeful.
So, my question is this: Does Clomid cause period disturbance? Is brown spotting a normal side-effect at the 100 mg dose? Can you explain to me what OTHER THAN PREGNANCY can be causing this? Should I just consider this spotting as my period this month... is this a typical period on this level of meds?
Thank you so much for your time... and I am sorry if this is way too long!
Kat
Answer Hi Kat,
I do apologize for the delay in answering you, but I wanted to do some extra research on your question.
Clomid can lengthen the time between periods, and because of this, may lengthen the actual number of days that bleeding is present. This is not actually a "side effect" as one of the purposes of Clomid is to lengthen the time between ovulation and the start of bleeding so that implantation can take place. The brown spotting is probably from the Clomid, and is not a cause for concern by itself. Because it appears to have been "brought on" by intercourse, it is possible that your partner's penis "bumped" your cervix and that has caused the spotting. This can happen whether the woman is taking fertility medication or not.
This brown spotting is not your period, and may not mean that your period is on it's way. Because you are pretty sure that you ovulated on CD 20, if you do not start actual bleeding (not spotting) by CD 38, you should then test for pregnancy. If the test is negative, see your doctor. You will want to confirm with your doctor first, that the Clomid is working, and second that you have not developed a cyst that could be delaying a period (which delays the next ovulation and therefore delays possible pregnancy).
You said that your doctor has done new blood work to confirm that your hormone levels are within the normal range. That is good, but you might want to talk to your doctor about doing a full thyroid panel (if it was not done). Many doctors will test the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) level, and not check for other related levels (T3 & T4). You also might want to discuss ways to treat the high testosterone level. Even though your result was only one number over the high normal, that can be enough to interfer with conception and implantation.
Don't worry that your reply was a bit on the long side. It is better to provide too much information up front than not enough and have to go through a long question and answer series before your questions can be answered.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to let me know.
