Clomid, For Conception!

(with apologies to Mr. W. Shakespeare)

This is the story of two families. The Taylors and the Pitts. They were neighbours in a very nice subdivision, living next door to each other, sharing a white picket fence. Summers, they invited one another to backyard barbecues; winters, they went tobogganing together down Petersen Hill. They had something else in common as well. Both couples were childless, and were trying desperately to conceive.

Mrs. Taylor went to her doctor, had a bunch of tests done, and it was discovered that she was unable to conceive because she had problems ovulating. Her doctor prescribed Clomid (Clomiphene).

Clomid (Clomiphene) is a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM), used to treat female infertility. It is the most commonly used fertility drug; easy to use, not too many side effects, quite inexpensive, and it has a fantastic rate of success.

Clomiphene is prescribed when there is a problem with ovulation. It is the drug of choice for females who have irregular menstrual cycles, or anovulatory menstrual cycles (menstruation without ovulation). Clomiphene is also used in the treatment of infertility caused by Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

How to use Clomid

Clomiphene must be used exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Each fertility expert has his own protocol for using this drug, and will prescribe accordingly. Generally Clomiphene 50 mgs. is prescribed for a five day period, from days 3 to 7, or days 5 to 9 of the menstrual cycle. But Clomiphene is just as effective whether the medicine is started from day 2, 3, 4 or 5.

You may not get pregnant in the very first cycle after using Clomiphene, and the doctor may adjust dosage, etc. a couple of times before getting the desired result.

Luckily, Clomiphene does not have too many side effects, and they all disappear once the drug has been stopped. Common side effects include:

· Nausea

· Tenderness in the breast

· Mood swings

· Hot flashes

Clomiphene can also cause some other serious side effects, so please check them all thoroughly with your doctor.

It is not advisable to take high doses of Clomiphene, as that can actually hinder conception by decreasing the quality of your cervical mucus.

A very well-known side effect of getting pregnant using Clomiphene is the possibility of multiple foetuses. It is very possible to get twins or triplets (sometimes even more) when you use Clomiphene.

Precautions.

Do not use Clomiphene if:

· You are allergic to Clomiphene or any ingredients in the pill

· You are already pregnant

· You have abnormal vaginal bleeding without any known cause

· You have ovarian cysts

· You have hormone dependent tumours

· You have fibroid tumours in the uterus

· You have thrombophlebitis

· You have liver disease

Please inform your doctor about any other medication you may be using before you start treatment with Clomiphene.

Clomiphene can help start pregnancies in about 80% of the women using it. Generally, pregnancy is achieved within 6 cycles of use. If six cycles have been completed, and you are not yet pregnant, it could be due to some other reason. Using Clomiphene for more than six cycles is not generally recommended.

I am very happy to tell you that Mrs. Taylor gave birth to a lovely, 9 pound baby boy after using Clomiphene.

Mrs. Pitt went to a third world nation and adopted a beautiful baby girl whose parents had died of AIDS. The Pitts opened their home and their hearts to a little orphan.

Now the Taylors and Pitts have even more in common. Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Pitt can often be seen walking in the park, babies in strollers. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Taylor have extra diaper duties, and are already planning to take the kids camping as soon as they are old enough.

Both families are as happy as they could be!