Fertility Options Coach

Clomid or clompiphene citrate is often the first drug that doctors prescribe for infertility – especially for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). About one-third of women who take clomiphene citrate will get pregnant (this varies with the type of infertility). It is easy to administer since it is usually in pill form rather than a shot like many of the more powerful drugs.

The usual starting dose is 50 MG. If there is no ovulation, your doctor may increase the dose to 100, 150 or even 200 MG. For women with PCOS, metformin (an insulin sensitizing drug) is often prescribed as well. Studies show a dramatic increase in success for PCOS infertility treatment when metformin and clomid are combined.

Clomid also has a pretty good record of safety. While there are some serious side effects to watch out for, most women who take clomid have only mild symptoms such as headaches, mood swings, bloating and fatigue.

Clomid works by blocking the estrogen receptors in the pituitary gland, tricking the brain into thinking there is a shortage of estrogen. So, the body produces more and more estrogen. This stimulates the egg-producing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the egg-releasing hormone luteinizing hormone (LH). The ovaries respond to FSH by growing some egg-follicles. When one or more of the follicles is ripe, luteinizing hormone helps to thin the membrane over the follicle, allowing the egg to burst free.

Clomid is often used alone, but can also be used with other fertility drugs. Many fertility doctors are now using an additional drug close to ovulation to increase the chances that clomid will work. Many doctors also recommend intra-uterine insemination (IUI) as well. An IUI is done by washing the sperm sample to weed out slow swimmers and poorly formed sperm. This helps increase the chances of success. Then, the sperm is inserted through the woman’s cervix directly into the uterus.

An IUI can increase the chances of pregnancy by helping to make sure that only the healthiest sperm reach the egg and it can also help with the barriers that can prevent sperm from getting to the egg. Clomid is known to reduce the slippery cervical mucus that helps sperm to swim. If the cervical mucus is too scanty or too thick, the sperm will not make it. An IUI bypasses this problem.

Clomid does increase the risk of having multiple births. Not as much as the more powerful drugs, but quite enough to make it necessary to think about the possibility. About 7 percent of clomid pregnancies result in twins – the majority caused by the release of two eggs (fraternal twins). About 0.5% of those pregnancies are triplets. Four or more babies are possible, but the odds are very low. In at least one famous case, septuplets were the result of clomid.

While having more than one baby may seem like a jackpot to someone desperate for any baby, having twins or higher increases risk to mom and babies. Humans are just not meant to carry that many babies and it can wreak havoc on mom’s body – and lead to premature birth and many complications for babies. Very few triplets are full term, and higher order multiples almsot never make it out of the severe premie range.

Again, the odds of this are very low, but if you are planning to take clomid, you should know the risks. Women who ovulate on their own should not take fertility drugs. I have seen some foolish internet articles and forums suggesting that clomid is a good way to increase the chance of twins for otherwise normally fertile women. This is dangerous and irresponsible as it can lead to some very, very sick babies or even mom.

Clomid does carry the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, a condition in which the ovaries become very enlarged and may rupture. This can be very serious and should be treated immediately.

Clomid may also be prescribed to treat some forms of male infertility.

Do you love someone who is infertile? Whether it is your wife, sister, daughter, or friend, it can be difficult to know how to support them without adding to their pain and confusion. I wish I had access to “Do You Love Someone Who is Infertile?” sooner – it would have helped me so much in explaining infertility to my family and friends.

This book is full of great advice for those who want to help a loved one struggling with infertility. The subtitle really says it all, “What you can do to help her, what to say to support her (and what you should never do or say.”

Fertility and infertility are deeply personal concepts that are publicly evaluated on a daily basis. Those for whom having children comes easily may have a hard time understanding the stress of wanting a baby so fully – and not having any assurance that parenthood will ever come. Even total strangers are quick to comment on whether or not you have kids, how many you have, and even how to have them if you aren’t successful on your own.

Family members and friends who mean well, but are misinformed, may add to the pain with comments that stab at the heart. If you have shared your fertility journey with loved ones, you have likely heard the many pieces of advice (“Are you doing it right? Have you tried a six-pack and the back seat of a car? Just relax and it will happen!”).

This book does an excellent job of explaining how to support an infertile loved one without adding to their pain. How much pain would be spared if every family member and friend of someone suffering from infertility were to read this book? Explaining infertility is so hard. For most people, avoiding an unplanned pregnancy is something they focus on quite a bit. Experts say that over half the pregnancies in the US are unplanned. So, for someone who is used to worrying about getting pregnant – the idea that pregnancy is difficult or impossible to achieve is hard to fathom. For the 1 in 6 couples who struggle with infertility, achieving a viable pregnancy is all-consuming.

There are many references to Christianity here, so be aware of that if it is a problem for you.

Filled with real examples and offering advice on dealing with all aspects of infertility, this is a wonderful resource for anyone dealing with infertility – and all of those who love and care for them.

I was one of those little girls who rocked dolls for hours. I played house, I decorated elaborate dollhouses. Being a mother was my ultimate dream. I expected motherhood to come easily and naturally–the way it did for almost everyone I knew. Infertility hit me like a meteor. Nothing could seem so unfair, so random, so personally devastating. Whether you were a doll kind of kid or a playing with snakes in the creek kind of kid, you likely thought that a baby would naturally come when or if you were ready. Infertility was likely as much of a shock to you as it was to most of the other 1 in 6 couples who experience infertility.

The authors of “Unsung Lullabies: Understanding and Coping with Infertility” are personally familiar with infertility. Each of them has their own story of how infertility came calling and all are psychologists who work with others who are experiencing infertility. They offer real advice for understanding why infertility is so emotionally pervasive. The authors get to the core of the reason infertility is so painful–losing the ability to have a baby at will is also losing a part of our reproductive story.

From our earliest days we start to build a story about what our lives wil be like and what kind of parents we will be. Infertility strikes at more than the chronology of when we can expect a baby–it can make us feel vulnerable, alone and out of control. It can even change our core idea of who we are.

This is a must read for anyone who is coping with the pain of infertility. Even if you are still in the journey, this book can help you understand your reactions to this overwhelming condition.

Unsung Lullabies: Understanding and Coping with Infertility

Endometriosis is an abnormal growth of uterine lining outside the uterus. It can grow on the abdominal walls or any abdominal organ such as the ovaries, intestines, and fallopian tubes. Rarely it does occur in other parts of the body. Endometriosis can cause chronic abdominal pain, abnormal bleeding, and infertility. Endometriosis causes infertility in 30-40% of sufferers.

A global survey of over 7,000 women from 52 countries presented at the 9th World Congress on Endometriosis on September 14-17, 2005 showed shocking results. Women in the study were found to wait three years before seeing a doctor about their pain–then another 8 years before they finally recieved a diagnosis. Half of the women had seen more than 5 physicians before getting a diagnosis.

The study also showed that 2,716 of the women had tried alternative therapies with 33% showing at least some improvement. Improvement was about equal among the various therapies.

Essential fatty acids (EFA) found in cold water fish, flax seed and evening primrose oil can help to reduce the inflammation associated with endometriosis. Following an anti-inflammation diet is extremely important to lower estrogen and inflammation. Avoid wheat, citrus, soy and yams as they raise estrogen levels. Use castor oil packs to help draw toxins out of the abdomen.

Work on liver health to help balance your hormones and remove toxins. You may wish to consider an internal cleanse. Hormones are metabolized in the liver. Consider using milk thistle, dandelion,and B vitamins. Avoid fatty foods, alcohol, and conventionally raised meat and dairy products. It is probably healthier to avoid red meat and diary altogether. Avoid estrogenic herbs and foods to reduce estrogen. Progesterone cream and wild yam may increase progesterone levels and help to counter excess estrogen. Take anti-inflammatory herbs such as ginger to reduce swelling.

While black cohosh is estrogenic, it is also known to reduce scarring and inflammation.

You may find the following tea helpful. Use 4-6 tablespoons of herbs to one quart of filtered water. Simmer for a few minutes then allow them to steep for 20 minutes. Strain and keep it refrigerated until you are ready to drink it. Drink 3 cups per day for 3 weeks, then repeat after your period for several months.

Endometriosis Tea

3 parts dandelion root
1 part Black Cohosh
3 parts wild yam
2 parts Pau’ d’Arco bark
1 part vitex
1 part Oregon Grape root
1 part milk thistle
½ part dong quai

Stress and infertility go hand in hand. While it is not as simple as ‘just relax and it will happen,” taking care of yourself can improve your fertility and lower your stress level. One simple but often overlooked way to boost your fertility is to get enough sleep.

I know, it sounds silly at first, but if you look at the chemistry of sleep you will see that chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to infertility. Melatonin (a hormone produced during sleep) is also important in regulating fertility.

* Weight gain and infertility are closely linked, especially in those with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Several studies have shown that getting less than 7 hours of sleep each night can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance. Excess insulin is a known factor in infertility and PCOS.

* Your body operates on a daily cycle called the circadian rhythm. At precise times throughout the day and night your brain sends messages to different hormone systems. When you don’t get enough sleep, or your sleep schedule is erratic, this precise timing is thrown off. Every hormone system in your body is thrown out off kilter when your circadian rhythms are off. Getting enough sleep allows your body to restablish those rhytms and get your hormones working properly again.

* Your body also repairs itself while you sleep. Damaged or inflamed cells are repaired each night. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body does not have time to repair itself. Over time these small areas in need of repair can cause long-term damage to any system in your body.

* Lack of sleep is itself stressful. When you are overtired you are more likely to feel stressed. Not only will you feel more relaxed with more sleep, you are less likely to make the small mistakes and have the small memory lapses that cause day-to-day stress to increase. When you are fuzzy from lack of sleep you may lose your keys, spill coffee on your work shirt, leave for work late or any number of other things that take an ordinary day into a stress-filled nightmare.

* Depression is a well-known side effect of lack of sleep. When you are depressed you are less likely to take good care of your body including eating right and exercising – a good diet and moderate exercise can increase your chances of fertility as well.

Getting enough sleep may not get you pregnant, but it can improve your chances. Besides, when you are well rested you are more likely to have the energy to try for a baby!