Metformin & Clomid

ConchordFan · 09-07-2009, 04:03 PM

I was diagnosed with PCOS in March 2008. I am thin, weighing 135 and being 5'7". My main symptoms are a bit of excess hair below my belly button and on my breasts (gross!). I have the typical string of pearls and I tend to ovulate later in the cycle. My cycles are never longer than 32 days, however.

I have been on 500mg Metformin since my diagnosis. I recently had a fasting glucose test and it was normal.

This cycle I tried 100mg of Clomid. It threw me for a loop! I felt like a real nutjob. My progesterone on 6dpo was 30.6. (Even on unmedicated cycles it was at least 22.)

When I did 50mg of Clomid, earlier this year, my RE did an endometrial biopsy and said my lining was two days behind.

Is it possible to have a high progesterone level like I do this cycle (30.6), but still have a luteal phase defect, with my lining possibly not being better? Is there a possibility my lining will not be up to par again?

I am due for an IUI in the coming cycle, I hope, due to our problems.

Thank you for any help you can give me!

duramater · 09-07-2009, 05:45 PM

It's possible you could have a luteal phase defect even with high progesterone at day 6, if the corpus luteum doesn't last long enough. But luteal phase defect means a decreased time (less than 10 days) between ovulation and menstruation, and from your post it doesn't sound like that's your problem.

Estrogen helps build the endometrium during the first two weeks of the cycle. Clomid is an estrogen receptor blocker, so can cause thinning of the lining - especially at high doses. Your RE could prescribe supplemental estrogen to help build the lining further (and increase fertile cervical mucus), or you could try taking something naturally estrogenic like evening primrose oil (EPO, available where supplements are sold) during the first two weeks of your cycle.

Hope that helps! Good luck with Clomid - this cycle made me crazy too.