What is Clomid?

Clomid is believed to have the ability to bring on ovulation in as much as 85% of women who use it, although merely half of them will in reality become pregnant. Continuing for more than 6 ovulatory cycles is not expected to amplify the chances of pregnancy. Clomid has been used for patients with luteal phase defect. It is also used to review ovarian reserve or, which refers to the probability of a woman's ovaries to still produce viable eggs. Clomid is not helpful for women whose ovaries have reached the end of their functionality.

How does Clomid work?

Clomid is a rather potent and complicated medication. It can react with all tissues in the body that have estrogen receptors. This includes hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary, endometrium, vagina, and cervix. Clomid influences the four hormones for ovulation, GnRH, FSH, LH and estradiol. It is not fully understood how the mechanisms of Clomid, it is believed that Clomid fools the body into believing that the estrogen level is low. This causes the hypothalamus to make and release more gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) which consequently causes the pituitary to make and release more FSH and LH. As a result, increased follicle stimulating hormone and more luteinizing hormone can result in the release of one or more mature eggs - ovulation. Correctly timed sexual intercourse is very important to amplify the chances of conception. The possibility of conception lessens with each subsequent course of medication. Your doctor decides the need to continue therapy after the first course. If ovulation does not occur after 3 courses, or you do not get pregnant after 3 ovulations, the doctor will stop treatment.

A pelvic examination or ultrasound is done each cycle shortly before starting on Clomid to decide any ovarian or uterine irregularity. Roughly 5% of women using Clomid can develop an ovarian cyst at during the treatment period. The cysts are benign and cease to exist witthout any treatment, but could cause discomfort. When using Clomid, if you do not have a menstrual period by cycle day 35, you could have failed to ovulate or are pregnant.

How to Take Clomid?

• Clomid is taken orally for roughly five days early in the menstrual cycle.
• This may start as early as day 3 or as late as day 5.
• It is important to remember that the first day of the menstrual cycle is the first day of normal bleeding, not spotting.
• Most women start with an initial dose of one tablet of 50 mg each day. This can be increased by your doctor in succeeding cycles if pregnancy does not come about. Once ovulating, most pregnancies do take place in the first 6 cycles of treatment.

Side effects of Clomid

• Twin pregnancies may occur in as many as 5% of the women who use Clomid.
• Triplet pregnancies are rarer.
• Adverse effects include.
• Ovarian enlargement 13.6%.
• Vasomotor Flushes 10.4%.
• Abdominal or pelvic discomfort.
• Distention or bloating 5.5%.
• Nausea and vomiting 2.2%.
• Breast discomfort 2.1%.

Visual symptoms include:

• blurred vision
• lights
• floaters
• waves
• unspecified visual complaints
• photophobia
• diplopia
• scotoma
• headache
• abnormal uterine bleeding (intermenstrual spotting, menorrhagia

Extended luteal phases (late periods, long cycles) are not uncommon on Clomid.

What should I discuss with my doctor before taking Clomid?

• Your doctor will assess you for normal liver function and normal estrogen levels prior to starting Clomid treatment.
• The doctor will also inspect you for pregnancy, ovarian enlargement, or cyst formation before Clomid medication commencement and between each treatment cycle.
• Do not take Clomid if you have an allergy to Clomid or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
• Like most fertility medicines, Clomid should not be taken during pregnancy.
• To keep away from accidentally taking Clomid during early pregnancy, your doctor will perform tests during each treatment cycle to decide whether ovulation occurs.
• Liver disease.
• Hormone-dependent tumors.
• Abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin.
• Ovarian cysts, except the polycystic ovary.

What should I avoid while taking Clomid?

When you're on Clomid, it's important to be very careful because it could be your only chance to get pregnant. As such, do not take other medication at the time.

Since you need to be under constant check ups, ensure that you don't miss any of your tests as any delay or callousness will jeopardize your success rate.