Not being monitored on Clomid....normal?

Question

I was wondering I am reading thru some of the question and answers on here, but also have read some online. I started clomid in October, and havent been checked by my doctor at all. The first round on it, he called me in to have blood work done to see if I ovulated, I did. But now he is not doing ultrasounds to see if I have any follicals, or mature eggs...Should I maybe look into seeing another doctor? Go to say what if I have cysts, and its not being caught?

Oh yeah also this month he isnt checking to see if I ovulated he said there was no need to since this dosage made me ovulate last month.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, I don't think your situation is abnormal at all -- but it's poor doctoring.

Absolutely your doctor should be doing some kind of monitoring to see what's going on in there. As you know, there is the potential for cysts to develop -- I'm surprised he isn't even checking for that before starting you on a new cycle. Another common side effect with Clomid is a thinning of the uterine lining....so for some women, it helps them ovulate but creates a uterine environment that's not exactly implantation-friendly.

As for ovulation on Clomid, I can tell you my own experience. I took Clomid for two cycles; during the first cycle I did ovulate, although I didn't react to the Clomid as we'd hoped..and during the second cycle I had a few follicles growing and then, woosh, they disappeared/reabsorbed and I didn't ovulate at all. I moved on to injectibles. If my doctor had decided not to monitor me because I'd ovulated on the first cycle, I wouldn't have known that my body was reacting that way, and I would have, to be honest, wasted more time and money before realizing that Clomid was decidedly not the answer for me.

Lack of monitoring is really a pet peeve of mine, and it happens so often when Clomid is being used; a lot of doctors just throw Clomid at the "problem" and leave you hanging. I would request monitoring and, if your doctor won't do it, I would look around for another doctor. Also, if you're seeing an OB and are having fertility issues, I really recommend getting a referral to a reprodutive endocrinologist....they specialize in such issues, and OB/GYNs, well, don't.

I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 2

My OBGYN has always monitored me monthly when I am on Clomid. I use to get monthly pelvic exams to check make sure my ovaries weren't enlarged from the Clomid. I couldn't start another round of Clomid until he examed me. Now, he is having me get monthly ultrasounds to check my ovaries and folicles. I chart my daily basal body temperatures, so I know I am ovulating. My OB also reviews my bbt charts monthly. In my opinion, I would look into switching doctors. I think your doctor should be monitoring you more closely.

Answer 3

Not every dr monitors women on clomid, which to me is dumb! Its a powerful drug and should be monitored closely.
With my OBGYN I was just sent monthly to have my bloodwork/progesterone checked. He was retarded and didnt understand I wasnt ovulating on CD14, but would send me for bloodwork on CD21 anyway. My #'s would be low and he thought it wasnt working on me so he kept upping my dosage.
But anyway....once I got with my fertility specialist is when I got the folicle scans and bloodwork every month. Your dr should be at least sending you for the bloodwork exactly 7 days after you ovulate.
I would talk to him and and if he doesnt want to monitor you corrrectly find a new dr that will.

Sorry so long!