PCOS\ NO Periods\ Clomid?
in Health
I have PCOS. I am one of the many that do not have a period at ALL. My husband and I have had unprotected sex for 5 years, and no luck of pregnancy. I have an appointment with my obgyn Wednesday. I am going to ask him about Clomid. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me about Clomid. I am asking because I have been researching this over the past few days, and see that it is to assist with ovulation. But, if I am not having periods, then I am not ovulating. Right?
Update:Yes, I have had that checked. I was placed on Metformin, but it was not effective.
Comments
Clomid is often used alone or with FSH in the treatment of anovulation (failure to ovulate). It is likely that if you have PCOS and no periods, that you are not ovulating.
One of the issues with PCOS sufferers is that they are estrogen dominant. And high levels of estrogen suppress the pituitary. Clomid blocks this feedback, so the pituitary puts out more FSH and LH (which are the hormones that drive ovulation). It can be very effective, sometimes too effective when used with FSH (causing multiple follicles to develop, which in turn risks multiple births and/or other problems). For that reason your doc will no doubt monitor your ovaries with ultrasound.
An alternative, but less direct method is to deal with the source of the problem, which is often caused by insulin resistance (the elevated insulin levels mess up the ovaries, producing more male hormones and less progesterone, and interfering with your cycle and ovulation). A natural extract called d-chiro inositol is known to reduce insulin levels in insulin resistant sufferers, and some PCOS suffers who have not been able to get pregnant (or have did not ovulate) have had success with this. There is also a drug which has the same effect (metformin), though it seems the natural extract is just as effective as the drug (too complex to explain why).
Have you had your insulin levels, glucose tolerance and/or insulin resistance measured?
This is the second month I have been on clomid. Last month I took 50 mg of clomid on day 5-9. I ovulated on cd 23. This month I am taking 50 mg of clomid on day 4-8, followed by estrodoil on day 9-12. I am hoping this will be the month! I did not have any symptons while taking clomid, although my AF was heavy this month with a lot of cramping the first day.
They can put you on birth control to restart your period and then after 2-3 months of a regular period they may take you off the pill and put you on Clomid for ovulation. I was one that had an irregular, heavy period. I would go from twice a month to every other month. When I got married and we decided to try I had been having regular periods that were still heavy, but I was still not ovulating. I was put on Clomid and the first month I conceived my daughter. My periods become slightly lighter and less painful and were regular after I had her and I naturally conceived both of my sons. Good Luck to you!