WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for June, 1997: Re: Chlomid (sp?)

Re: Chlomid (sp?)

From: Kelly (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 1 Jun 1997 12:02:06 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: Holly: "Chlomid (sp?)"

At Sun, 1 Jun 1997, Holly wrote: >
>Hi All -
>
>I'm hoping you can give me some info. to pass on. I feel like I'm in
>the middle of a BIG mess. Let me try to give you a quick history.
>
>The other day I was talking with a woman who I've taught in several
>child care classes. She had no trouble getting pregnant with her first
>child, but tried for 4 years with the second. I finally talked her into
>getting a second opinion from my doctor who after several tests did
>laparoscopy (I think) and discovered both tubes were blocked. He
>cleared them as best he could and reviewed how to chart her cycles, etc.
>(She ovulates like clockwork).
>
>Anyway, after trying for so long, she is very impatient and wants to go
>on chlomid NOW. The M.D. said no for now, as he thinks she might be
>able to conceive now by charting (she hasn't even tried charting since
>the lap). Well, it turns out her sister was on Chlomid when trying to
>get pregnant and has some left (about 6 months old). You guessed it,
>she has opted to use her sister's chlomid with the attitude of "I just
>want to get pregnant." While I don't know how she feels, I can empathize
>with her, as I saw my own sister struggle with infertility for 7 yrs.
>before getting pregnant.
>

>Can anyone give me any medical reasons why she shouldn't do this, so I
>can try to point out the risks to her. I am just trying to find a way
>to get her to tell the doctor.
>

Holly

You sound like you're a great friend!

There ARE risks to using Clomid, beyond the "if she doesn't need it, it's not going to do any good anyway" issue. Clomid has side effects, like every thing else in life. They include: hot flashes, bloating, nausea, headache, moodiness. Occasinally it can cause the development of large ovarian cysts. And, let's not forget about multiple births -- the incidence of twinning is about 5%. Also, Clomid, while a wonderful drug in the right patients, can actually IMPAIR conception sometimes by causing thickening of the cervical mucus (the sperm can't swim thru it) and inadequate development of the uterine lining (the embryo may not implant properly).

All you can do is encourage your friend to talk to her doctor. I know (believe me, I KNOW), how frustrating infertility is, but impatience does not help, and doing things wihtout the doctor's ok could be counterproductive.

Good luck.

-- Kelly Shanahan, MD, FACOG S. Lake Tahoe, CA

note: Opinions here are for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to consult with your own physician. It cannot take the place of a face to face consultation and examination.

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