Advice on Fertility Drugs

I took this medication for one cycle with few side effects. My main side effect was hot flashes.

My personal feeling is that you must be comfortable with taking fertility medications for them to be fully effective.

Good Luck!
K.

hi,
I had to see a fertility specialist also. I did what ever they said. I changed my diet, took meds..whatever. I have recently discovered that certain products in your house can also cause fertility issuse and also birth defects. I would love to share more with you please leave me your info. at www.cheerforyourfuture.com

K.,

I am 46 years old and I am the most happier mom of a 4 year old girl and 21 month old boy, both done through IVF, at first I didn't want to have anything to do with drugs and shots but my desire of being some day called "MOM" gave me the courage to do it, I know one of the other moms said that if you desire is bigger, the pain is worth it. I never had side effects other than bruised legs from the shots, my kids are healthy as they can be. I am not trying to convince you to go that route but since you like to check everything, check the fertility clinic up in DC that one of the moms is telling, it is a great clinic!!! and they might give you more details on pros and cons to using fertility drugs.

I did clomid, gonal-f, progesterone, lupron and other ones that I can't remember on top of my head, I tried 5 IUI's and they didn't work and when I did IVF the first time was successful with both of my kids.

A.

K.,
Without trying to endorse the use of these drugs, I used them for my two pregnancies, resulting in my two babies...

I have experience with fertility drugs. I had two misscarriagges in my early to mid twenties and then tried to conceive for 2.5 years without success. I was diagnosed with PCOS and realized I likely would not conceive on my own as I don't even get a period without medical assistance. I used Clomid and did not have horrible side effects except that I became over stimulated and had to have a couple large sists removed. I then tried Gonal F (injections) and conceived my daughter. When she was about 9 months old we started using the clomid again and within 2 months became pregnant again with our son who just turned 1 last month. I am going to the doctor this week to get my new prescription and begin trying for baby #3. Without the fertility drugs I believe I would never have become pregnant and carried a baby full term.

I can understand your reservations and I suggest doing as much research as possible. As others have stated possibly started with the clomid in a low dose which is taken orally may be an option. I had success with it and know others who have as well.

Best of luck.

Hi K., I'm A. and live in Leesburg, VA. I got pregnant at age 42 after trying for 5 years. I went through hell with tests, etc. with the fertility specialist. I finally went back to my GYN who suggested Clomid. My husband and I researched it and agreed to try it for 3 months. I got pregnant the first month and had a beautiful pregnancy. Never did understand why the other doctors didn't suggest clomid earlier, except that there would be no money in it for them. We have a wonderful, healthy, happy, smart son!
Good luck to you!!

K.,
What are the side effects, how serious are they and are they reversible? You are talking about trying to accomplish something that I assume is profoundly important to you. Ask yourself if perhaps the risk is proportionate to the desired result.

Becoming and being a mother presents a lifetime of joy and risks. Maybe this is just the first one you have to face. Good luck, be strong and stay focused on what you want.

I have NO experience with fertility drugs. However, I have known several women that have used acupunture for fertility and it worked for them. Best of luck to you!

It seems you have reservations, your intuition is telling you not to automatically go to fertility drugs. As for me, I got pregnant at 42 after trying for about 3 years with no drugs. I'm now a few days shy of 9 months. I felt the same way as you about fertility drugs and decided not to take them. I do believe that until that time we weren't ready, but only realize this now. This little guy came along at the most perfect time, even at 42. 2 months is not a long time to be trying. Trust that you will make the decision that is right for you. Best of luck!!

K., Even though technically you are AMA (advanced maternal age which is 35 and older) I still think you need to be true to yourself. If you are having reservations about taking fertility then don't right now. I did fertility drugs back in 1996 because I have PCOS. I ended up conceiving but also had a lot of complications early on in my pregnancy. I am blessed to have twin boys that just turned 11 yesterday. I think you need to figure out what the apprehension is that is holding you back. If you're going to do insemination and pay for it you most likely will need to take some sort of drug to ensure the success. I hope you find peace about it. I'm happy to talk more at length about my experience if you'd like to contact me. Best of luck to you.
M.

K.,

I cannot say much about fertility drugs, because it is out of my area of expertise. But if you are looking for a more natural approach to fertility, there are a couple of acupuncturists in town who specialize in this area that - judging from the women in my classes that have become pregnant while working with them - have a good degree of success. Oriental Medicine Specialists (http://www.omspc.com/conscious_conceptions.php) and Lisa Smith are two that come to mind. They will work with you in conjunction with the medical fertility specialists.
You might also try going through the BRAIN acronym with the procedure/medication being offered to you: What are it's Benefits and Risks; what Alternatives are there; what does your Intuition tell you; what are the risks/benefits if you do Nothing. That will give you a framework for making a decision that feels right for you.
BTW, I was at one point pursuing artificial insemination and also was given the "urgent" talk at the age of 38. Which led me to throw caution to the winds when I met my future husband and we decided to try to have a child together, thinking it might "take a couple of years". We got pregnant on the first try and I had my son at 40.
Good luck!

Dear K.,

I am a Doctor of Oriental Medicine with 20 years of experience. I am also a RN with OB/GYN background. I work with Fertility issues and see patients at my clinic in the Towson Maryland area at The Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine. We have had good luck with helping people achieve pregnancy using Acupuncture and Herbs. If you would like more information, my websites are: www.mcim.org and www.acupuncture-baltimore.com. If this is something you would be interested in, I am free to speak briefly with you on the phone. Call our offices at ###-###-####.

Sincerely,
S. Martin OMD, L.Ac., RN

I don't have advice on fertility drugs per se. I'm 47 years old and gave birth to twin girls two years ago via IVF. I highly recommend the Shady Grove Fertility Center (they have locations throughout the DC Metro area). They explore all options with you and are so very caring and professional. I know other people who went to them and both gave birth (not only via IVF but other options as well. Their success rate is phenomenal. They have a website and you can contact them via that or they have telephone numbers you can call as well.

K.,
I am 34. In April 2007 I gave birth to a baby girl who was conceived by IVF. I took a number of fertility drugs (bravelle, clomid,lupron and 1 other) throughout my 9 months of fertility treatment. I began with clomid, then Bravelle and artifical insemination and finally IVF (with lupron and bravell). I hated the shots, but it was worth it. I luckily didn't suffer any side effects. Remember all medications have possible side effects. I was just aware of what I was taking and kept my eye on the prize. Feel free to contact me if you want to talk some more.

HI K.,

We used Clomid and IUI with both of my pregnancies and we are now the parents of two beautiful boys. My best advice....be open minded about infertility treatments. I've found that not everyone suffers from significant medication related side effects and I agree with your RE that at your age, which, granted is still young, you do not want to waste time trying things that do not work. We did not use/nor were we offered Femara based on my circumstances. ANy of the by mouth meds are generally easier to take than injectables and have a lower risk of multiple births.

Best wishes to you.....I always found Fertility Friend (www.fertilityfriend.com) to be a great resource of information and support.

C

I went thru 4 cycles of fertility drugs with only one successful IUI (Yeah! Twins!). I, like you, researched the drugs and asked a million questions. Ultimately, all these drugs are artificial and have loads of listed side affects. All drugs do. If you are unsure, you should seek more advice from your doc. If that still leaves you wanting, go to another doc. There is no reason not to 'shop' doctors until you find one who works for you on all levels. Personally, I went to Shady Grove Fertility on advice from my OB/GYN whom I trust completely. I had a good experience and felt all my questions were answered in terms I clearly understood and we explored many options along the way. I personally, had no adverse affects from the drugs except the first month I hyper produced eggs so we had to cancel the insemination that month and the next! After that they cut my doses in half and that worked better for limited egg production. Good luck!!!!

Hi...I actually have PCOS and I took Femara to get pregnant. I tried clomid, but got extreme migraines on them. The RE explained that the Femara actually decreases the free floating estrogen in the body, which is why it is used with breast cancer mets patients...Clomid does not do this, thereby causing residual hormones, thus increasing my migraines.

I know several ladies who used Femara to get pregnant. Some REs will not use it, however it's good to know yours will, b/c it definitely can make a wonderful difference in getting pregnant...Our lil miracle is almost 4 years old...

Good luck...M.

OK, while I have no personal experience with this whole process, please don't discount your reservations on this drug/using drugs. I have a friend who while using fertility meds (sorry, don't know the exact ones off the top of my head, I'll ask her) had some serious side effects -- her reaction to one infertility drug included dizziness, hallucinations, irregular heart beat, 25% drop in IQ and loss of most of her short term memory.
She also is extremely sensitive to medications - usually takes 1/4 of whatever dose is prescribed of a medication because of it.

So, your apprehension to take these drugs sounds like it is for a very real, very valid reason.

Please, don't let anyone throw you into panic attacks over the timing. Taking a month or two to thoroughly check out the literature regarding possible side effects of that medication, other meds and their potential side effects, alternative (non-drug) methods, another doctor's opinion, etc, is SMART. What good is having a baby if you damage yourself irreparably trying to have it?

Whatever you choose to do - good luck!

i tried IUI three times and didn't work. my doc. recommended IVF. i think it was shots twice a day for 14 days. it worked with the first try. now i am a mom to 3 year old twin girls. if i had to do it all over again i'd opt for IVF immediately than anything else. good luck

Hi! I've had a bit of experience with fertility treatments since our son was conceived with IVF. I have many friends that have had success with ovulation inducing drugs. I would listen to your doctor and take the medication. At your age unfortunately you really are running out of time as far as getting pregnant with your own eggs. The side effects can be uncomfortable (hot flashes, headaches, sometimes nausea) but they are short-lived. And it's so worth it once you have your baby in your arms.

Hi K.,
I'm 39 and in a year a half span of time I had 3 miscarriages so I went to a fertility doc. After evaluation we decided to go for the IUI treatment with timed intercourse. That means they don't inseminate you but schedule the intercourse depending on your treatment protocol. I had to take some meds: clomid, progesterone, and an HCG injection to jumpstart the process. The drugs weren't a problem at all and I didn't really have any side affects. We conceived after the first try and are expecting in July 08. However, if you're feeling a little unsure about the Femara i'd say look into other options or facilites. I went to Shady Grove Fertility and they were excellent! And don't let that age thing scare you. Yes it is a factor but your overall health is as well. When I went for my first trimester sreening that tests for Down's Syndrome the nurse said my risk numbers were like that of a woman in her early 20's! SO THERE! It can happen for you. Keep the faith and follow your instincts.
Be Well and all the best,
M. C.