Conference moira::parenting

Note 21 contains comments about fertiltiy drugs and multiple births.

Clay Satow
co-modertor

    
    
    My wife was recently put on some pills to regulate her menstrual cycle
    and make her generaly more fertile. Could these pills make it more
    likely that she will have a multiple birth (she also has twins in her
    family).The pills are called Cycletron or something similar.
    
    
    Jim G.

Jim, 

I've never heard of Cycletron.

I'd suggest you get the writeup on the drug from your doctor.  When our
doctor gave us seraphene, under the name of Clomid, I read all the FDA (or
whatever) info on the drug, and that included how much it increased the
chances for various multiple births (not much).

As for the twins in the family, it depends on if the twins are identical or
not.  If identical twins run in her family, it won't make any difference.
Identical twins are caused by a single egg, splitting.  If, however, her
family produces lots of fraternal twins, then this means that they are already
inclined to produce multiple eggs, and that could conceivably (pardon the pun)
make a difference.  :-}

        Carol

    Jim,
    
    A lot pf pharmacies these days, have write-ups available for the drugs
    they dispense - it may be faster than waiting for the Drs office.  You
    could probably find the information in a medical/drug reference book at
    your library.
    
    GOOD LUCK!!  One's enough at a time! (-:

This note is being entered for a member of our community who wishes to
remain anonymous at this time.  For the purposes of this string, this noter's
pseudonym will be "Abigail".  

      Carol duBois, PARENTING co-moderator

*******************************************************************

September '91 I stopped taking the pill after 5-6 years.  I had 3 periods 
between then and March of '92.  I then waited until the September of '92
and told the doctor that I had not had a period that previous 6 months.  I
was told to wait another 6+ months, which I did.

I then went on holiday February of this year and on my return had a period, 
exactly 1 year to the day since the last one, I had another two consecutive 
ones after that and then nothing again.

I went to the Gyn.  at the beginning of Sept. '93 told him I was sick fed-up
of waiting and being told it takes time.  All my blood tests had come back
okay so I was put on a weeks course of Clomid (2 per day for 5 days) I took
the last one 10/Sept.

Since then I have had a sort of dirty coloured discharge, but no period.  Is
there any reason for this?  I am due to go back to the Gyn on 30 Sept. he 
says to see if either I'm pregnant or have had a period.

I'm sorry this is so long winded - but I go a complete blank when I go into 
the doctor and don't really have much info on Clomid or how long it takes 
for ovulation to occur after taking it, etc.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

"Abigail"

    Abigail,
    Did the doctor offer an explanation as to why your system might
    be functioning in this matter? I get the impression from your 
    note that you are not getting a lot of caring and attention from
    this physician. Have you considered going to someone else? 
    
    Monica

    I think you should look for another doctor.  You say you went to 
    your doctor in September of '92 and told him you had only had 3 periods
    in the last 12 months, and he told you to go home and wait another 
    6 months????!!!   I believe the doctor should have immediately taken
    a more aggressive approach as soon as you reported this.  
    
    On the other hand, you have to be aggressive, too.  For example, I
    wouldn't have let 6 consecutive months go by without a period before
    I went to the doctor.
    
    If your doctor isn't answering your questions, or is sending you home
    to "wait and see" too frequently, I'd find a new doctor.
      
    
    Jane
    

Abigail,

After 4 painful years of infertility, my wife and I finally have 4 month old 
twins (via IVF).  We live in the Boston area and have had access to many
different doctors, clinics, institiutions and organizations.  The single best
thing we did was get involved in RESOLVE.  They not only enable you to meet
other people wrestling with the same issues (either in support groups or 
informal meetings) but they also have a newsletter and a wealth of technical
information.

Infertility is a very immature arena for the medical profession.  We soon 
learned that not all Doctors had the same education, philosophy or experience.  
Through RESOLVE, we developed a network of infertile couples who have now become
very close friends.  We constantly shared our experiences, emotions and knowledge.
After a while we knew who the good doctors, clinics, medicines and procedures 
where and who/what should be avoided.

My advice, join RESOLVE,, educate yourself and get a different doctor.

Best of luck,
Vinnie

This note is being entered for a member of our community who wishes to remain
anonymous.  If you wish to send mail to the author, you may do so by sending
mail to me.  I will forward your mail with your headers intact unless you
request otherwise.

     Carol duBois, PARENTING co-moderator

*****************************************

Looking for someone who has experience with Lupron (given to suppress
hormones before giving Pergonal treatment).

Doctor started dosage 3 weeks after last period. Have been on it a week
and told me yesterday to stay on it another week. Then start pergonal
dosage. (Plan: First cycle on pergonal was June (follicles uneven/ovulated
too early), then skip July, then Lupron + pergonal for August)

Do you normally get your period when you are on Lupron? I should have gotten
it yesterday and my temperature is up.  Nurse said period would be light.
What do they say about being pregnant and on Lupron at same time ?

Thanks.

> Do you normally get your period when you are on Lupron?

Yes.

> I should have gotten it yesterday and my temperature is up.

I think your period will be off by a couple of days.  Since Lupron is
suppressing all kinds of hormones, I suspect BBT readings are useless.

> What do they say about being pregnant and on Lupron at same time ?

You should avoid getting pregnant while on Lupron.  I think it's unlikely
that you're pregnant (after all, the reason you're going through this
is that you're infertile), but you should probably call the Dr's office
for peace of mind.

    Hi,
    
    One of my friend taken Clome between 2-6 instead of 5-9 days of
    menstrual cycle due to some misunderstanding. What are the side
    effects, what are the problems, Yesterday is 6th day today only
    she found she did the mistake
    
    Please reply soon
    -Thanks in advance
    

    I don't think there are any side-effects [at least not that my
    practitioner or the drug info I looked up indicate].
    
    It isn't as effective if one doesn't take it at the right time; but it
    shouldn't do any harm.
    
    I assume that if your friend is taking clomid, that she is also doing
    the ovulation predictor testing. I would suggest that she begin doing
    this testing a few days early this month as she took the clomid early.
    
      Annie

    I took Climid but it was so long ago I don't remember the timing.  The
    likely side effect is a screwed up ovulation. She might have messed up
    this months cycle but nothing that can't be rectified for next month.
    She should, however, talk with her doctor or nurse about it to get
    expert advise.  (They are used to this type thing - people mess up the
    instructions all the time.)

    hi,
    
    I am wondering what is the reason that Clomid should be taken between
    5-9 days.

    
    Actually a book that I read stated that the new (experimental?)
    thinking is that it is better to take it earlier in the 
    cycle then the traditional days 5-9.  Sorry to be so
    vague, thankfully I was able to donate my books to
    the library.
    
    Amy
    

Clomid is a drug that triggers your body to start the events that lead to
ovulation. 

If you think of all of the things that go on in a 28 day cycle, things are at
different stages every day.   If you take Clomid 5-9, then your body reacts to
it in time to ovulate around day 14, which means your hormone levels and your
lining will be at the right time to support the pregnancy. 

Extending that, I would assume that if you take it early (new medical research 
aside), you will either 1) not react, or 2) ovulate so early that the lining 
and hormone levels are not ready for implant.   

    
    Just a datapoint... taking 100mg a day on days 5-9 I ovulated
    about day 21.