Why didn’t clomid work?
To stimulate ovulation, many women are given clomid as the first line of therapy. Usually, you don’t need to see a reproductive endocrinologist but rather, your OB/GYN can prescribe clomid for you. However, it’s often not the magic bullet. It doesn’t work for many women who have underlying problems that haven’t been diagnosed.
– PCOS is a condition that is often under-diagnosed and has many poor responders. Although clomid is a recommended treatment for PCOS women, studies actually show that it performs poorly compared to many natural agents such as myo-inositol.
In addition, there are women with thyroid antibodies which makes them clomiphene resistant and has been connected to treatment failure and higher miscarriage rates.
Women with low ovarian reserve are not great candidates for clomid. Trying to release egg follicles from ovaries that are general low on follicles is like pushing a weak horse into the desert. I suggest seeking guidance from a specialist if you have low ovarian reserves. Please don’t deplete the reserve more by taking ovarian stimulants.
Side effects of clomiphene include digestive upset, dizziness, HAs, and visual disturbance. It can also increase risk of ovarian cancer. Last but not least, greater than 6 months of use has been shown to impair fertility.
Other pharmaceutical options for ovulation:
HCG injections are used to stimulate the ovaries to release a mature egg follicle. The problem is that HCG can over stimulate the ovaries and lead to cyst formation
Bromocriptine is a medication used to decrease prolactin levels that could support ovulation. This might be an option for some women, though there are natural ways to potentially support ovulation.
Herbs that can help increase ovulation naturally:
Vitex
Lemon balm
Licorice
Shatavari
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