About Rebecca Carte Expertise Previously employed in one of the nations finest Reproductive Health Institutes, I have experience and knowledge in the field of reproduction, fertility, infertility, and other aspects of men`s/women`s health. I am also a former patient who succeeded in having a child after years of infertility thanks to the modern wonders of injections and IUI/IVF procedures. I am well versed in IUI, IVF, injections, oral medications, and testing procedures.
Experience
Experienced Reproductive Health Employee. Infertility patient. Study participant for several procedures and medications. Advocate for insurance coverage of infertility related health issues. Seeker of knowledge in the field of Fertility/Infertility/Reproductive Health.
Expert: Rebecca Carte Date: 3/31/2006 Subject: Re: Clomid dosing
Question Hi, I'm on Clomid 50mg from days 3 to day 7. My specialist only told me that I "don't ovulate well". I do not have PCOS. Last cycle was my first round of Clomid. I had to take it on an arbitrary day and call it my day 3 because I had taken Prometrium 200mcg for 10 days but it did not trigger a withdrawl bleed (even after 14 days). I took the Prometrium in the afternoon instead of at night (oops!!). I told the MD but he didn't seem to think it mattered too much. He also was not concerned because I have had 3 positive withdrawl bleeds using Provera in the past. The first round he told me I ovulated because my day 21 progesterone level was 36.7. I menstruated on day 33. I had breast tenderness on days 22 to 33 and had moderate amount fertile mucous on days 14 and 15. For this cycle I took the Clomid as ordered. I even used the ovulation prediction kits (First Response) and had a positive LH surge on day 14. However, I did not get any breast tenderness and I always get breast tenderness when I menstruate wheater it be on my own or on the birthcontrol pills. I did get a small amount of fertile mucous on day 20. It is now day 30 and I have had no real symptoms of PMS or pregnancy. I did have mild headaches and feelings of light-headedness on days 21, 23, 24, and 25. I am waiting a day 26 progesterone level to come back (I wasn't able to arrange it for day 21). So given all these facts, I don't think I ovulated this cycle. Why would Clomid suddenly stop working when it worked so well last month? Why did I get the LH surge? Is the day 26 progesterone level useless because it was drawn too late? If it comes back less than 10 can I safely conclude that I did not ovulate on Clomid this cycle? I am a Canadian citizen but I am in the U.K. for six months due to my husband's work. Therefore I am doing this on my own. My specialist gave me 30 pills of Clomid 50mg (enough for my 6 month stay) but told me I could increase the dose upto 100mg if the 50mg did not work. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Minh
Answer From personal experience I can tell you that our bodies and hormones change for many reasons and we must often adjust our medications to deal with those changes. It sounds as if the current dose of Clomid just didn't do the trick this past cycle and you may need to adjust it. I had to do that for several cycles.
It also sounds as if you have learned to listen to your body and know it well enough to know when something is right and when something is off track. That is wonderful. You know when you need that extra boost! Keep in constant contact with your doctor about that. Let him know that that cycle hasn't been right for whatever reason. He needs to know those things.
I also believe that you may not have ovulated this particular cycle. You could have, but it sounds as if your body told you otherwise.
A day 26 progesterone level is not bad. The readings will not be useless. At times we cannot always get our tests perfectly on day 21 as we'd like to, so we have to settle for whenever we can and those results help too.
Keep your head high and keep listening to your body. You are more in tune with it than many women are. I would try the increased dose next time around and be sure to let your doctor know that you are doing so. Good luck!
