If you’re having trouble getting pregnant for 6 months to a year despite your best efforts, your doctor may recommend Clomid, a drug that helps women ovulate.
Clomid use is considered the least expensive fertility treatment and the first one tested for most couples.
Not only for women but Clomid can also be prescribed for men because it also works to increase sperm count.
A Clomiphene Citrate cycle is very short but will still work long after it ends.
So what happens when you stop taking Clomid? And whats clomid used for? The following article will give you answers and useful information related to Clomid treatment for women.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Clomid?
Stopping Clomid completely will not have any adverse effects on your body.
Clomid works by tricking your body into making more testosterone to increase sperm count (in men) and develop ovaries (in women).
When you stop using it, it will bring you back to the normal production level as before.
That means your body will return to the same symptoms as before you took the medicine when you stopped using Clomid.
Therefore, when starting Clomid, you must anticipate transitioning to TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) after childbirth.
Who Should Take Clomid?
If you’ve been trying to get pregnant naturally for at least a year (or within 6 months if you’re over 34) with no results, then maybe Clomid is just what you’re looking for.
Nearly a quarter of couples can successfully conceive two years after using this therapy.
Clomid is usually used for the following patients:
Infertility of Unknown Cause
Suppose you fall into a situation without any clear explanation for your inability to get pregnant after a long trying time.
Even so, you receive a diagnosis that your body’s reproductive functions are working normally and your partner’s sperm is fine.
This is called unexplained infertility. For couples with this condition, the doctor may prescribe medication such as Clomid to improve reproductive functions.
Irregular Menstrual Cycle
When you have irregular periods or don’t ovulate at all, you may be prescribed clomid pills to get pregnant.
Clomid works to help your body produce eggs and ovulate, thereby increasing the chance of pregnancy.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Women with PCOS often have problems with their menstrual cycle, either infrequently or at all. For such cases, your doctor will usually prescribe Clomid.
When And How To Take Clomid
For best results, you need to take Clomid tablets for a 5-day period, taking 1-3 daily pills. Each Clomiphene citrate tablet contains 50mg of Clomiphene Citrate.
After taking the prescribed doses, the drug is still effective in the body because of its long half-life.
In some cases, Clomid is an adjunct to mini-IVF to be used over the long term.
Usually, you will likely have to return for a follow-up visit one week after taking Clomid to have your ovarian cysts re-evaluated with an ultrasound.
You will also be given instructions on how to check for natural ovulation or use an ovulation-stimulating medication instead.
Intercourse or intrauterine insemination also needs to be informed by the doctor at a specific time to get the best results for the patient.
After 14 days from ovulation, you can take a pregnancy test to know the results.
Does Clomid Have Any Side Effects?
Besides the remarkable clomid benefits, it has some notable side effects that patients must be aware of to avoid risks during treatment.
Common Bad Side Effects
Patients taking Clomid frequently experience hot flashes, blurred vision, headaches, mood swings, and possibly changes in cervical mucus.
Clomiphene acts directly on the pituitary gland and affects many tissues that have estrogen receptors. As a result, patients will experience body changes during the Clomid cycle.
Fortunately, these changes do not last long but only happen shortly after the Clomid cycle ends.
Although some patients worry that Clomid may cause ovarian cancer, there is no convincing evidence that taking the drug can increase the risk.
Thin the Lining of the Uterus
This is a common side effect that Clomid can bring during treatment. The thinning of the uterine lining is a noticeable problem when the embryo is ready to attach to it.
Therefore, patients must measure the endometrial thickness and monitor the Clomid cycle by ultrasound. If your endometrium becomes thinner, you should stop this treatment.
In some cases, patients can also restore endometrial thickness by administering intravaginal estradiol.
In addition, switching to an alternative follicle-stimulating drug can alleviate this side effect.
There are many cases in which a woman is given low doses of Clomiphene citrate that not only does not support the development of eggs but can even thin the endometrial stripe.
If the patient is not monitored by ultrasound, it is very difficult to recognize this side effect.
Therefore, patients must seriously learn about these side effects to have the most reasonable solutions.
Causes Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cysts are also one of the bad side effects that Clomid can bring to patients.
This is because Clomiphene can remain active in a woman’s body for several weeks after her period ends, allowing the ovaries to continue to stimulate, increasing the occurrence of ovarian cysts.
Patients with ovarian cysts are often discovered at the beginning of a treatment cycle or feel pain in the pelvic area.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
Although this is a rare side effect, it can be quite dangerous. For such patients, immediate medical attention is required to avoid unpredictable consequences.
Also, if you are wondering, “Should I take Clomid?” then I recommend you find a professional to check and advise on the right solution for your condition.
It is important to note that before using this medicine, you need to tell your doctor about your medical history, especially of: Ovarian cysts, thyroid/adrenal gland problems, liver disease, tumors in the brain, vaginal bleeding, and uterine troubles.
FAQs
Are There Any Alternatives To Clomid?
Femara is sometimes used by patients as an alternative to clomiphene. Some cases should give priority to using Femara:
- The body does not react to Clomid
- Letrozole may cause ovulation for some of these women
- The body cannot tolerate the side effects caused by Clomid.
How to Improve Clomid Success Rates?
Clomid therapy can greatly benefit patients with fertility problems if used appropriately, especially in non-ovulatory patients.
If the drug is misused, it can cause serious side effects and complicate the treatment of female infertility.
Timing of ovulation with ovulation predictor kits or artificial egg activation combined with timed intercourse or IUI may provide a better treatment success rate.
In all cases, for the best results, you should consult an experienced reproductive endocrinologist for appropriate guidance and evaluation and to ensure success when using Clomid.
Conclusion
What happens when you stop taking Clomid? The main answer is that nothing bad will happen if you stop using Clomid.
Mainly your body will return to the same symptoms as before Clomid’s intervention.
Clomid is a fertility drug that stimulates ovulation and is used by many couples as the first treatment method.
This drug can bring a high success rate and help a woman get pregnant easily.
However, patients must also be carefully guided by their doctor to know whether Clomid is the appropriate treatment.
