Question:
I am 32 and writing from Texas. We are trying to have our 4th child. In Jan. 2010 I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks and subsequent D&C. It took 2 months for my cycles to even begin. Then I was put on Clomid 50mg days 5-9 for 4 cycles. I was monitored with progesterone blood checks, 14th day ultrasounds, hcg shots, and checking for over-stimulation. I ovulated every time (with a progesterone level of 27) and the doctor said my follicles and lining looked good. However, I am not pregnant and it has been 6 months since the miscarriage! My first child was conceived with clomid the 1st time.
Why is the clomid not working for me? Has it changed the cervical mucus and lining? Do other women struggle to become pregnant after a miscarriage too? The last two times that I conceived (3rd child and miscarriage) I became pregnant naturally the 1st effort made. Does miscarriage change your fertility? Should I not have clomid??
My doctor wants to take a break and then come back later and 'blow out' my tubes. Is this necessary? Do I need a different regime of medicine? I feel as though I am out of luck since the clomid did not help in conception. Should I see an RE (reproductive endocrinologist) soon?
Thank you for helping! I feel overwhelmed and just want to bring this baby into our lives. L. from Texas
Answer:
Hello L. from Texas,
I think the easiest way to answer your questions is to take them individually one at a time:
1. Since you are stimulating with the Clomid (and I presume you are ovulating more than one egg per cycle because that is the purpose of Clomid), you are responding to the Clomid. I don't know why your doc even put you on the Clomid since you were able to get pregnant on your own before. Any idea? All Clomid will do is increase the number of eggs you ovulate. It does nothing else. The body still has to go through the 9 step natural process for a pregnancy to occur. It is NOT a magic drug.
2. Clomid at high doses can change the endometrial lining causing it to thin because it is an estrogen receptor blocker and similarly change the cervical mucous. Often a Clomid cycle will have to be supplemented with estrogen if this is the case, or changed to a different medication such as Femara. The lining can easily be seen and measured by ultrasound.
3 Miscarriage is very common. It has been reported that the miscarriage rate is as high as 40% of pregnancies. This includes women who have late periods that don't even realize that they are pregnant. Statistically, 85% of women that have miscarriages will go on to have a successful pregnancy so you shouldn't worry. Your previous miscarriage does not worsen you chances of getting pregnant unless you had a major complication from it such as hemorrhage or uterine rupture.
4. The procedure to "blow out" your tubes is actually called an HSG (hysterosalpingogram). It is the test that we use to see if the tubes are open. Sometimes women will form a mucous plug in the tubes thereby inhibiting sperm passage. The HSG can push out this mucous plug and open it. It is worthwhile to make sure that the tubes are open but I would not count on it for anything else. It does hurt by the way.
5. I think that if you want the expertise of a specialist in infertility, and feel you are not getting it with your current doc, then an RE (reproductive endocrinologist) would certainly be more specialized and have more knowledge. You might want to consider that. It would be the same as going to see a Cardiologist for your heart instead of being treated by your Family practice doc. The basic knowledge of a specialist and the treatments they can offer are greater.
Good Luck,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
http://www.montereybayivf.com/
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
