I am concerned need help

[wantababy1985]

Hi,
I have a question for anyone who is out there and reading this. I was first diagnosed with pcos in dec 06 I am 22 yrs old. I have my periods every month on time but do not ovulate. I just finished up my 3rd dose of clomid and was wondering if anyone knew why I wasn't ovulating and should I be scared that I will never be able to conceive? Also what is the next step after clomid?

[deblynnc]

I don't know the biological reasons why, but it is possible to get AF without ovulating; it's also possible to ovulate without getting a period. You're not the only one. A lot of us cysters are Clomid resistant (including me) and our ovaries just don't respond to it, even at the highest recommended dose.

As for the next step, when Clomid didn't make me ovulate I was put on Metformin, then Met and Clomid together. The next step after that is often injectibles, if you don't O on the Met or Met/Clomid combo.

Good luck and lots of babydust to you.

[wantababy1985]

Thanks for the reply but I am on 2000mg of metformin and spironalactone with the clomid and have been for three months now. Are the injectibles the last resort. And another question what exactly is ivf

[deblynnc]

Injectibles aren't the last resort, but they aren't the first choice, since they are much stronger than Clomid with a higher risk of high level multiples. It took injectibles before I finally started growing follies-- and then boy did I grow a bunch. I didn't get pregnant that cycle, so we moved on to IVF the next cycle, to prevent having quads or more.

With IVF, you take the injectible hormones. The difference is that to do an in vitro cycle, once the follicles are big enough to be mature they retrieve them using a needle (depending on the clinic, you may be sedated or completely asleep - I was sedated, but conscious). Then they put the mature eggs they collect in a dish with daddy-to-be's sperm, or they can inject a single sperm into each egg (called ICSI, for short). Then they wait either 3 or 5 days (depending on the clinic), watching to see how many fertilize, how many grow and look healthy. Then on day 3 or day 5 post retrieval, they return anywhere from 1-4 (depending on the clinic, mom's age, willingness to risk multiples, quality of embryos, etc...) of the healthy looking embryos to mom's uterus. Then it's wait and see if they stick.

Hope this helps!

[Manderlynn]

I hate to sound stupid, but what are injectibles?

[deblynnc]

I hate to sound stupid, but what are injectibles?

Injectibles are hormones you take to make follicles grow. They are used alone, with IUI or as the first part of IVF. They are called injectibles because you give yourself injections to administer the meds.

Nothing stupid about wanting to know

[Dazed]

Just another option or suggestion from one clomid resistant cyster to another - I did 3 cycles of clomid alone, from 50mg up to 150mg, and never O'd. My OB then added dexathemazone to a 150mg cycle, but I still didn't respond. I then sought treatment from an RE and started met. I then did 2 more cycles of clomid (100mg to 150mg per cycle) along with the met, but I still didn't respond. My RE then added back in the dexamethazone and FINALLY I O'd....although I didn't conceive that cycle I O'd again the next clomid+dex+met cycle and conceived.

The point of my long story (sorry about that) is to check on dexamethasone. It's not a fertility drug, it's a steroid, but it helps lower DHEAS in some of us cysters that are clomid resistant.

Babydust!

[diana0624]

Keep in mind that if you are ttc, you should probably stop taking the spiro. IT can cause birth defects.

[wantababy1985]

I just want to say thanks to all for your concern and help. I dearly appreciate it. **BABYDUST to all!**

[wantababy1985]

The point of my long story (sorry about that) is to check on dexamethasone. It's not a fertility drug, it's a steroid, but it helps lower DHEAS in some of us cysters that are clomid resistant.

Babydust!

What is dheas if you do not mind me asking

[Dazed]

You can find out more than you'd ever want to know about DHEAS here http://www.answers.com/topic/dhea, but basically it's a hormone that is often abnormally high or high normal in us cysters.

[autumnleaves]

Wow I was told I absolutely could not take spironlactone if I wasnt on some kind of birth control. Anyway what worked for me is femara. I have never tried clomid but it could be possible that femara would work for you.