My husband & I are trying to conceive our 2nd child. We have a wonderful 6 yr. old boy & have wanted another child for a while now with no such luck getting pregnant again. My Dr. has prescribed Clomid. I am on my 2nd month of taking it now (technically I’m on day 6 today 2/28/08)& the reason I am asking for advise is because basically I feel really stupid about the number of days thing! See I have NEVER had a regular period, it seems like every other month my period starts a week later, but thats neither here nor there. These are my Dr.'s notes for me: Day 1 start period, Days 3-7 Clomid, Days 11-14 Ovulate, Days 21-23 Progesterone level blood test.
Just so I’m clear & forgive me for being so naive, we are suppose to be trying to conceive on days 11-14 is that correct??? Any advise would be appreciated, or if you have any experience with Clomid, I’d love to hear your experiences. Thanks
I have not tried the Clomid, but one of my dearest friends was on it for almost a yr, and yes 11-14 days are the days you want to try and conceive.. She also has gotten pregnant with using Clomid, she is now having twin boys.. Best of luck to you!!
You should be trying the most around days 11-14. Some people say that you should try every other day so that the "little guys" can build up but I think that depends on your DH.
But don't discount the days before and after though. Sometimes the "little guys" can live for up to a week. So have fun, and be spontaneous as much as you can. "Trying" is supposed to be the fun part, but when it's been this and have to consider the calendar it can become more of a chore. To avoid this my husband and I came up with a "signal". I kept track of my chart and when it was time I put on a special nighty and special perfume. That way we never had to look at each other and say "okay, it's time". I mean how romantic is that?
I hope that clomid works for you. Don't give up. My daughter was 6 when our second was finally born and we had been trying since she was 12 months. At times we thought we would stop because our daughter was getting so old and we didn't want a huge age gap. And yes the age difference is hard but it isn't anymore difficult than having two very close together, it is just different. My girls aren't "friends" but they do love each other and it is fun to watch my older one helping her baby sister.
As the other respondents said, but in addition to that, you want to make sure you look for your body's "ovulation" symptoms... discharge changes, ovulation cramping, basal body temperature etc. There is a lot of info on this on the web. So don't just rely on counting days, look for your body's ovulation signals too. I never used Clomid... but we got pregnant naturally by going according to my ovulation symptoms and tracking that along with my period etc. There are also "ovulation calendars" on the web, which are free and you can use this to track your own pattern. It's very useful and this is what I used. We got pregnant this way. Just do a Google search for "ovulation calendars." You can also buy a "basal body temperature" thermometer. You take your temp every morning before getting up. Keep it next to your bed and log your temperature every day. This is what I did also. Since you are trying to get pregnant, also take vitamins, folic acid etc. or you can even take pre-natal vitamins already. I'm not a doctor, but this is what many women do, to prep your body.
Good luck to you and take care,
~Susan www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo
Good luck to you and take care.
I think that the fact that you don't have a regular period is significant. Have you gone to see a fertility specialist? Don't waste too much time with your regular doctor. Every single day you are less fertile than the day before. I started to try to conceive at age 35. Lots of wasted time with a regular GYN and several misdiagnoses later, I found myself in my late thirties with diminished fertility and still no child. I wish someone had told me to go straight to a fertility specialist as if I had, maybe I would have a bio child now.
Incidentally, after 7 years of infertility, we finally adopted and are very happy now.
Angie I was taking clomid. my instructions were take the pills on days 3-7 of my period. Have sex on days 14-16 of my cycle. I was able to get pregnant while taking 100mg of clomid on my second cycle. Hope this helps. If u have any more questions please let me know.
Nichole
I have been in your situation and I can say clomid wasnt for me, but yes you should be having sex probably days 11 through 16. However, you MUST look for signs of ovulation if they are not doing a scan of your ovaries or giving you a shot to induce ovulation. If you are not going to a fertility specialist I would highly recommend going to one as they will make sure your ovaries are not being hyper stimulated and you are not developing any cysts. If you develop cysts and they do not go away when your period begins the next round of clomid will basically not be effective because of the hormones the cysts produce. At least that is what the fertility docs told me. I eventually got pregnant off of injectable medication, however, I do have a friend who got pregnant with twins from Clomid. Good luck! If you want to chat more about this feel free to email me!
Hi Angie,
I have also taken clomid goog/bad experience. I was doing IVF and they put me on this...I believe for blood sugar levels. I was on it non-stop for month...even into my pregnancy. It made me sick to my stomach all the time. Hopefully you are not experiencing that. But I do have to beautiful little boys now. Fron to seperate IVF's. So the torture was worth it. But they say it effects everyone differently. Most women will ovulate between 11-14 days....so you are right.
I also used clomid with an irregular period. Two things 1) before you try your doctor should be giving you ulTrasounds to check the number of folicles to avoid multiples ard day 14 and maybe again ard day 17 if by 14 you don't have a viable folicles since your periods are long. 2) you should pee on sticks starting on day 11 until you see you are ovulating and then try when you are. Goid luck.
I took clomid to conceive my first baby, now 20 months old. I did not ovulate until day 19 when I took it. I was told this was very normal. I took the clomid, then went to the dr, they scanned to see if there were any follices, they checked my LH levels, gave me a shot of LH as my levels were low, and 2 days later I went back for IUI (artificial insemination). If you are not going to get checked at the dr, I would recommend using ovulation test strips. http://www.pregnancyteststore.com/ovulation-strip-instructions.html To get pregnant with my 3rd baby I used the kits were you get 20 strips, these are the most economical. (i think!)
I've never been on clomid myself but I have a friend that was on it unsuccessfully. She started taking an herbal supplement called Dong Quai. She has been taking it for about 3 months now and tells me her periods are becoming more regular, which makes it easier to track ovulation. I'm not big into pharmacuticals though and don't know much about them. Also, red raspberry leaf tea helps to tone the uterus. Hope this helps, good luck!
hi. i used clomid with my first child but we did IUI which i highly recommend although out here it is likely not covered under insurance (i was in NY at the time where it is covered). an IUI would ensure that you are getting the timing exact. while yes you should be trying to conceive during days 11-14 you should really call your doctor to find out which day precisely or how often you should try. i'm surprised your doctor isn't monitoring you to track follicle growth every other day and give you a shot to ensure ovulation the day before you are due to ovulate. call and ask! don't feel stupid.
yes you are supposed to have sex on the days you are most fertile (days 11-14). I took clomid as well when trying to conceive my first child. After the 1st cycle of meds my doctor told me that I didn't ovulate and we would have to take a larger dose the next month. I gave it up at that time and then later found out that not only was my doctor wrong about me ovulating, but I actually got pregnant! With my second child I decided to try the Fertility Awareness Method where you get to know yourself so well that you know when you are ovulating therefore have a much higher chance of getting pregnant or not pregnant when you want. It worked so well for me that I got pregnant the second month of doing it! I would highly recommend you at least take a look at the book and try to understand your body. Your doctor may not have your cycles correct and therefore, you won't get pregnant, even if you are taking meds.
With me, clomid sometimes pushed my ovulation back, I'd start taking the ovulation tests (answer is the brand I used) on day 10 or so, then when you get a positive there you know you'll ovulate in the next 24-48 hours. Are you doing any temping? That will also confirm ovulation. But to answer your actual question, yes, your dr. is assuming you'll ovulate between cd 11 and 14.
I have tried for the last two years to conceive. I am older than you. I am 38 and have a 16yr old and a 4 yr old. I know this is a big age gap-but having a third sibling-especially for our four year old would be great. We have tried everything from doing it the 11-14th day. Starting with the 3rd day after my period end and every 2 days after that...nothing has worked. The fertility specialist said that my chances are slim and that I should go straight for the invitro. I say, "It's not like I have not had kids before. Why so quick to do such a drastic procedure? There are risk of multiple births and complications. I was surprised at how rushed he was to suggest this.
I need to keep trying and invitro needs to be seen as the very last resort." In the mean time, I am going to change my diet and keep trying the natural way. At least for another year.
It makes me wonder??? I have met so many younger women in their early twenties and mid thirties who are having trouble conceiving after trying for 2-3 years. Is it what we are eating? TThe enviorment? Hmm? I can see that my fertility is shot down but I just don't get why so many younger women still can not conceive...
I have never used clomid, but I would suggest that you get the book taking charge of your fertility. You have to be committed to charting your cycle, but based on your temp. it tells you when you ovulating and you can even tell that you are pregnant before a test shows a positive result. It is an interesting book and I found it helpful as did many of my friends that had a difficult time getting pregnant. Good luck and best wishes.
I don't have any experience with Clomid but I DO know about ovulation. The Clomid is basically manipulating your cycle (which is good since yours is irregular!) and the days that you are ovulating, are the days to get BUSY! From what I understand, the eggs have a very short life in the tubes if not fertilized (less than a day?) and sperm can live for UP to 2 days. SO, not only should you and your husband have sex every one of those ovulation days (and maybe even before) BUT ask your Dr. also. Trust me, he won't think you're naive! :) I think that they start talking to patients like EVERYONE knows how their cycle goes.
I did 2 rounds of Clomid with IUI & both were unsuccessful. I was supposed to do a third, but I was frustrated & stressed, so I decided to give up. Then, I prayed to God for help conceiving & got pregnant on my own the next month. My advice is- start having sex in the days BEFORE you are supposed to ovulate as well as the days that you are probably ovulating to ensure you don't miss it & ask the Lord for help. You don't have to go through it alone.
Carrie : )
PS Don't forget that since Clomid usually causes you to release more eggs than normal, your chance for multiples is higher.
I am a working mother of two that works in a fertility office.
Your doctor has most likely placed you on clomid because of your menstrual period irregularity. This may be an indication that you are not ovulating regularly and clomid will help with that. Yes, you are trying to conceive during days 10-14. You may also want to purchase an "ovulation predictor kit" to determine exactly when you ovulate. You and your husband should be having intercourse every other day during those days, keeping sperm in the system. Two weeks from the day you ovulate is when you can take a pregnancy test or, if not pregnant, will start your next period. Your doctor may be having you come in at that time for a pregnancy test, that may be what you were referring to when you said "progesterone level" blood test. He/she is probably drawing a Beta HCG and possibly a progesterone level test.
I have two Clomid kids, ages 6 and 2. I think you have the days right, but I would increase the window for trying, like 11-17. My MD did follicle scans starting on day 12 (a vaginal ultrasound) to check and see if/how many follicles were progressing. They measured them, and by that number, they could tell which one was likely to "go" and could guess which day. I'd usually have 2-3 of these (days 12, 14 and 16--to see if one "went"). This was great because I'd know what my chances of conceiving were (even though many other factor go into play with conception). Without the scans, you really don't know if a follicle is maturing, although, the Progesterone test will let you know whether or not you ovulated. But, from my experience, it's sure hard to wait. Ironically, Clomid tends to dry up cervial mucous, making it a hostile environment for sperm. if this happens, go online to check out "Preeseed" which is a natural lubricant. Check with your MD first, of course, but mine told me to buy it. GOOD LUCK!