I don't go here anymore but have a question regarding clomid. I have a friend who has had two chemical pregnancies in the last seven months. She has had her progesterone drawn and it was low during both losses. She went to see her OB and he suggested clomid instead of progesterone to boost her lining and progesterone at the end of her cycle to keep a pregnancy. They don't have a RE in her city. Her OB doesn't believe in monitoring stating that research states that the risk of multiples is extremely low. From everything I have read and seen especially on these boards I feel like she is getting some iffy information. Am I crazy to push her to try progesterone first? Especially if there are only so many times clomid can be used?
I don't go here anymore but have a question regarding clomid. I have a friend who has had two chemical pregnancies in the last seven months. She has had her progesterone drawn and it was low during both losses. She went to see her OB and he suggested clomid instead of progesterone to boost her lining and progesterone at the end of her cycle to keep a pregnancy. They don't have a RE in her city. Her OB doesn't believe in monitoring stating that research states that the risk of multiples is extremely low. From everything I have read and seen especially on these boards I feel like she is getting some iffy information. Am I crazy to push her to try progesterone first? Especially if there are only so many times clomid can be used?
Clomid does not boost your lining. It can actually thin it if you're not being properly monitored. You should push your friend to find a RE instead.
TTC #1 since August 2013 DX: Endo November 2014: Hysteroscopy, D&C June - September 2015: Clomid + Novarel + IUI #1-3 January 2017: Laparoscopy - endo removed
TTC #1 since August 2013 DX: Endo November 2014: Hysteroscopy, D&C June - September 2015: Clomid + Novarel + IUI #1-3 January 2017: Laparoscopy - endo removed
It seems like this OB has no idea what he is talking about, since the purpose of Clomid is not to "boost lining." Like lilsneezy said, one of the main side effects/risks of Clomid is that it can thin your lining, which is why it's only supposed to be used for a maximum of 6 cycles.
I would encourage your friend to find an RE who actually understands the purposes and risks of fertility meds. There are many risks associated with taking Clomid without proper monitoring, and it's really not worth risking it with an OB who doesn't even understand what Clomid is for.
The OB thing is making me crazy. Plus she is doing all her own research. She is actually irritated with me questioning it. I want what is best for her. Plus they have been trying for 7 months and had two cp that are known to be from low progesterone. I don't know where she is getting her research. But, the people I know have been monitored on it. I feel like a pain but don't want her to get screwed.
I don't go here anymore but have a question regarding clomid. I have a friend who has had two chemical pregnancies in the last seven months. She has had her progesterone drawn and it was low during both losses. She went to see her OB and he suggested clomid instead of progesterone to boost her lining and progesterone at the end of her cycle to keep a pregnancy. They don't have a RE in her city. Her OB doesn't believe in monitoring stating that research states that the risk of multiples is extremely low. From everything I have read and seen especially on these boards I feel like she is getting some iffy information. Am I crazy to push her to try progesterone first? Especially if there are only so many times clomid can be used?
Clomid does not boost your lining. It can actually thin it if you're not being properly monitored. You should push your friend to find a RE instead.
All of this. Your friend needs to run away from this OB. Clomid is primarily prescribed for ovulatory induction and has nothing to do with treating lining issues and as mentioned above, can actually cause permanently thin lining. She definitely needs to seek out the care of a RE.
You're being a good friend, but people always shoot the messenger, and especially with TTC, we can all get a little irrational and hear only what we want to hear sometimes. But the risks with Clomid are definitely not limited to multiples - cysts, thinning lining, OHSS, etc. are all things that the doctor should want to check on while on Clomid. She really should at least get a second opinion from another OB who hopefully isn't crazy.
Okay, yes - I agree with the others that she needs to see an RE if she is interested in Clomid.
I will say this, though - low progesterone following ovulation could be due to poor egg quality, which Clomid is going to address. We don't know what caused her losses - poor eggs, low progesterone, bad luck, etc. I think his reasons for suggesting Clomid are not entirely terrible. I personally would rather start with supplementing progesterone, but I can see his angle.
However, she should definitely visit with a doctor who's specialty is in reproductive endocrinology before taking these medications. An OB is a specialist in keeping a baby inside, but not putting one there to begin with.
Okay, yes - I agree with the others that she needs to see an RE if she is interested in Clomid.
I will say this, though - low progesterone following ovulation could be due to poor egg quality, which Clomid is going to address. We don't know what caused her losses - poor eggs, low progesterone, bad luck, etc. I think his reasons for suggesting Clomid are not entirely terrible. I personally would rather start with supplementing progesterone, but I can see his angle.
However, she should definitely visit with a doctor who's specialty is in reproductive endocrinology before taking these medications. An OB is a specialist in keeping a baby inside, but not putting one there to begin with.
She has had no other labs drawn besides progesterone when she was pregnant or miscarrying. So she isn't sure of her egg quality. But I will push for her to see a specialist. Though she is damn stubborn. We both just graduated from PA school and she is determined to do all the research on her own. Which she has done. And her research states something completely different from what the norm is.
Okay, yes - I agree with the others that she needs to see an RE if she is interested in Clomid.
I will say this, though - low progesterone following ovulation could be due to poor egg quality, which Clomid is going to address. We don't know what caused her losses - poor eggs, low progesterone, bad luck, etc. I think his reasons for suggesting Clomid are not entirely terrible. I personally would rather start with supplementing progesterone, but I can see his angle.
However, she should definitely visit with a doctor who's specialty is in reproductive endocrinology before taking these medications. An OB is a specialist in keeping a baby inside, but not putting one there to begin with.
I agree with the first half of what you said but I think his reason for suggesting Clomid is pretty terrible. Had he said what you said, that it could help her egg quality, then I wouldn't be so quick to write him off. But for him to say that it's going to help her lining is misinformation. I personally wouldn't trust a doctor who prescribes medication without knowing the true side effects first.
TTC #1 since August 2013 DX: Endo November 2014: Hysteroscopy, D&C June - September 2015: Clomid + Novarel + IUI #1-3 January 2017: Laparoscopy - endo removed
I agree with the first half of what you said but I think his reason for suggesting Clomid is pretty terrible. Had he said what you said, that it could help her egg quality, then I wouldn't be so quick to write him off. But for him to say that it's going to help her lining is misinformation. I personally wouldn't trust a doctor who prescribes medication without knowing the true side effects first.
I never suggested she take the Clomid from the OB. I also never suggested that she did not write him off.
She has had no other labs drawn besides progesterone when she was pregnant or miscarrying. So she isn't sure of her egg quality. But I will push for her to see a specialist. Though she is damn stubborn. We both just graduated from PA school and she is determined to do all the research on her own. Which she has done. And her research states something completely different from what the norm is.
Egg quality isn't something that can be tested. After all my tests came back normal, my RE wanted to clomid + ovidrel + IUI. Why? They had no idea what was wrong so they were like "Let's boost your egg quality, force those good eggs out, and have sperm waiting. That seems like a good plan, right?"
Ha.
At the very least, your friend needs to understand the risks of Clomid: thin uterine lining and overstimulation. There are women on this board who have grown 4+ eggs on Clomid, all which could be fertilized and implant. There are also women who have been pulled off Clomid immediately when their ultrasounds showed thin lining that could lead to PERMANENT fertility loss. Both of these risks are not slight. If she knows and understands these risks, then you can't do much. But, at the very least, try to get to read some stories of unmonitored Clomid.
Her best bet is to visit an RE at the right time point, let them do the testing, them let explain the risks, let them prescribe the drugs and let her be in the safest hands possible. But, some people won't do these things.
I agree with the first half of what you said but I think his reason for suggesting Clomid is pretty terrible. Had he said what you said, that it could help her egg quality, then I wouldn't be so quick to write him off. But for him to say that it's going to help her lining is misinformation. I personally wouldn't trust a doctor who prescribes medication without knowing the true side effects first.
I never suggested she take the Clomid from the OB. I also never suggested that she did not write him off.
I wasn't implying that you suggested that. I was simply saying I personally wouldn't trust him as my doctor.
TTC #1 since August 2013 DX: Endo November 2014: Hysteroscopy, D&C June - September 2015: Clomid + Novarel + IUI #1-3 January 2017: Laparoscopy - endo removed
Post by beckynsean11 on May 20, 2016 10:57:05 GMT -5
Her OB is a fucking moron. The risk of multiples is not low with Clomid. Clomid won't help thicken her lining & since she's not being monitored, there's no way to know if her lining is even an issue. Clomid can help with low Progesterone because it can cause better ovulation. I'm sorry your friend isn't more receptive to your help.
TTC since 11/2012, IR-PCOS, weak ovulation, Incompetent Cervix
BFP #1, EDD 3/30/14, M/C on 8/19/13 at 8w D&E 8/21/13 -"Tad"
BFP #2, EDD 9/16/14, IC loss on 4/12/14 at 17w4d-Rowan
BFP #3, EDD 6/20/14, preventative TVC placed 12/19/12, IC loss on 1/6/15 at 16w3d-Carson
TAC'd w/ Dr Haney on 4/20/15, Bionic cervix is in place with 2 bands!!!
Post by ohinvrtedworld on May 20, 2016 10:58:16 GMT -5
Ugh, it's hard to speak the hard truth to someone in an area as sensitive as TTC. You have her best interest (and future fertility!) at heart. I would recommend to her at least getting a second opinion from an RE who she can bounce this OB's advice off of, and hopefully get a reality check.
Post by requiressnacks on May 20, 2016 11:47:08 GMT -5
I have nothing to add here except that the chance of multiples while taking clomid is not "extremely low." It's probably closer to 8-10%. I can attest to this because I currently fall into this minority. I hope she proceeds with caution!
Yep to what all the smart ladies above said. Clomid absolutely thinned my lining so I needed to take oral estrogen as well. I'll never take Clomid again. She needs to be monitored. It works great for some and not great for others and the only way she will know which side she's on will be with monitoring.
Me: 31 Wife: 30. Legally married 2008, thanks CA! TTC #1 since 11/14 using donor sperm. IUIs Jan-Aug 2015 BFN Sept & OCT 2015 added Femara. BFN Saw RE December 2015. IUI with Clomid & Trigger Jan 2016 BFN IUI #13 with Follistim April 2016 BFFN IVF #1 July 2016. 14R, 10F, 6 Day 5 embryos. 4 PGS normal embabies!
It seems like this OB has no idea what he is talking about, since the purpose of Clomid is not to "boost lining." Like lilsneezy said, one of the main side effects/risks of Clomid is that it can thin your lining, which is why it's only supposed to be used for a maximum of 6 cycles.
I would encourage your friend to find an RE who actually understands the purposes and risks of fertility meds. There are many risks associated with taking Clomid without proper monitoring, and it's really not worth risking it with an OB who doesn't even understand what Clomid is for.
So much this. That ob doesn't know what she is talking about. I had thin lining and that is the reason my RE skipped clomid all together and went straight to injects for me. She needs to see a RE when thinking about taking clomid.
TTC #1 starting July 2013, RE last 2014 First Angel baby lost July 11, 2014 IUI #1 with injections successful: EDD 11/24/15 Rainbow baby DD born 11/14/15 TTC#2 October 2016 Second Angel baby lost Jan 5, 2017
My first round of Clomid ended in a chemical pregnancy and my progesterone at 18 DPO was 5. Yes 5. I had no lining issues on it, but after a chemical on the first cycle and a cyst on the second I moved on to Femara and had much better success. /antedote
Clomid isn't a magic pill that will fix the progesterone issues. Some women don't respond well (I'm one of them) and some will have 8+ follicles on the lowest dose. She needs to be monitored.
Also have her look into Femara. It also strengthens ovulation (possibly with multiple follicles, so again she needs to be monitored) but right now Femara doesn't have the link to thin linings that Clomid does.
I'm an RPLer, with suspected lining issues. As joy said- the OB's reasoning isn't that far off. That doesn't mean clomid should be considered as the first course of action.
Estrogen and progesterone both play heavy roles in the lining. Estrogen, in the first half of the cycle, builds the lining, while progesterone, in the second half of the cycle, causes cellular changes in the lining that make it friendly for implantation. Progesterone plumps the lining a little, but it's primary role is really to make those cellular changes that say to an embryo 'hey, we're ready for you!'
Clomid is known to block some of the effects of estrogen, so this is where the problems with clomid and thinning of the lining can come in. So, what the OB is saying is the corpus luteum from a better quality egg can produce more progesterone, which can change the lining into a friendlier environment for an embryo- but- as long as clomid didn't block too much estrogen in the first half of the cycle and thin the lining.
Anyway, the bottom line is progesterone supplementation would be a better approach, without the risk of thinning the lining.
Like already mentioned, encourage your friend to see an RE.
Post by lvlyldybmp on May 20, 2016 16:28:37 GMT -5
My OBGYN had me try Clomid to see if that would boost my progesterone, before moving on to suppositories, as far as I know there's no evidence that Clomid can boost your lining, it has the opposite effect. I was taking the smallest dose, and was also told not to be worried about the risk of multiples at such a low dose, but I felt uncomfortable not being monitored.
I moved on to an RE, and have to drive 2.5hrs each way, I suggest your friend finds an RE if she is having lining issues.
Clomid is known to block some of the effects of estrogen, so this is where the problems with clomid and thinning of the lining can come in. So, what the OB is saying is the corpus luteum from a better quality egg can produce more progesterone, which can change the lining into a friendlier environment for an embryo- but- as long as clomid didn't block too much estrogen in the first half of the cycle and thin the lining.
Yes!! I was trying to type this earlier in a separate response, but couldn't phrase it well and then had to do an hours long experiment. Thank you for saying what I never found a way to articulate!
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