My OB didn't. I think a reproductive endo would be more likely to do the heavy monitoring. However, my OB is a good friend & mentor, so we basically said down together and figured out a plan that worked with my schedule (no time for u/s visits 45 minutes away from school); but also figured out how to be most effective--getting bloodwork done locally... I think doing the ultrasound helps monitor to see how many (if any) follicles are developing, are they of appropriate size, and do you need a trigger shot for them to be released. I think too, people using clomid combined with IUI will be monitored with ultrasound so that the IUI will be timed correctly.

I am using the test strips to monitor ovulation--theoretically by picking up an LH surge. This should help us time everything the best we can. My OB and I decided that basal temp charting wouldn't work with my erratic sleep schedule and isn't too reliable when you are first learning how to do it... so we are going with the OPK strips. The only warning with that was that the clomid can cause a slight LH surge, so dont start the strips right after you finish the clomid, wait two or three days!

I am on my second day of the clomid and so far have noooo symptoms at all... hope this doesn't mean its not working!

Vicky, sorry to hear you did not get pregnant this month. If you would prefer to be monitored more closely, maybe just ask?

I am OK with not being monitored that closely. We are self-pay and these tests can get expensive. We have two insurances between us and neither pays for infertility treatments. I love HMO'S!It makes me feel better to know that there are other women out there going through this too. I always tell my husband being infertile makes me feel so isolated. You just can't truly understand it until you go through it.

I really do recommend getting the ultrasound before going on each cycle of Clomid. I thought of it as an annoyance until this past u/s, when they found the 2 cysts. I was told that going on Clomid this month would pose a significant risk of the cysts rupturing. I know that many women go through cycles of Clomid without the monitoring, but better safe than sorry. At this point, now that I've gotten over the disappointment of not being able to do another round of Clomid this month, I'm really glad my RE does the u/s, because I certainly don't want a ruptured ovarian cyst (I'm not even sure it's dangerous, but certainly painful).

The RE didn't seem to think this was due to overstimulation. Actually, more like understimulation. She said I probably did ovulate, but much later in my cycle than I should have. The cysts were either just large follicles (well, corpus luteum I guess) that handn't gone down, or maybe corpus luteum cysts? Or maybe I didn't ovulate and they were follicular cysts. In any case, she said that they would almost definitely go away in a month and then I could do another round of Clomid. If I don't get pregnant on my own this month, that is :crossfingers:

good luck to everybody!

Sorry for the double post, but I just wanted to say to GatsbyJo that I barely had any side effects my first month of Clomid (really I was just a bit emotional after about 4 days of it), and I ovulated that month. The second month I got hot flashes and definitely had side effects, but I didn't ovulate. So I guess the moral is to just go with the flow and hope it does the trick!

Tigress--thanks so much for the advice. I'm not seeing an RE, just an OBGyn, and we are only trying 2 cycles, maybe just one... After that, I'd see an RE although I doubt we'll take that route. Tigress--If it doesn't happen for us now, we'll wait till 4th year or perhaps beyond. I guess because of the few number of cycles and the low dose I'm on, I'm pretty ok with not being monitored too much. I would prefer to do bloodwork and u/s but we just dont want to take it to that step yet...

Also glad to hear you didn't have Symptoms either... we'll have to wait and see if i have positive OPK or not--i think those detect urine LH surge.

DRVicky, hows it going?

Well I am Day 3 of cycle two with Clomid and the hot flashes hit today. i was talking to a patient and all of a sudden I broke out into a sweat. i think your clomid prescription should come with a thing of deodorant. My nurse has this perfume spritz thing that she sprays me with when I start to sweat.Thank god for good nurses. I have made a decision not to talk to my friends about my infertility anymore. They are all pregnant and it just ends up being awkward. It is nice to be able to vent to women who understand. Gatsbyjo I hope this is your month and you get pregnant!

Did anyone else's doctor advise them to cut down on stress? How are you supposed to do that when you are a doctor? I am still scratching my head over that. well my contract is up in 18 months. i guess if I am not pregnant by then I will have to look for another less stressful job( One without hospital!!)

My dr mentioned that as long as im in school, then residency & beyond, i will always be stressed enough to mess with my cycle (its my personaility!)... however because my only known barrier to getting pg is not ovulating or menstruating, then presumably clomid will help... possibly even up the same likelihood of 20% per cycle that a 'normal' couple would have...

i think the point with stress is that some people are more likely to have stress affect their physical health than others... In my non-educated MSII opinion i would suggest that if the amount of stress in your life cant be toned down, than you need to find a way to deal with it so that you down just tuck it all in... you know?

for me, exercise, talking, writing, and trying to mentally choose to relax at times are all helpful...

On another topic, im sitting here 2 days after my last clomid wondering when I'm going to ovulate! aack!

Don't worry you'll ovulate. I have a good feeling! i am in the same boat. I am one day after my last clomid and planning when we will have to make the donuts( That is what my husband calls it:) At least I am not on call next week and that is when I should ovulate. Less stress is good. When are you going to start testing your urine? :crossfingers:

I have no idea...

Lets see I took clomid 50 mg cd3-7

Its now cd9! I was going to use the urine LH strips maybe starting tomorrow... I have heard ovulation could be anytime from day10 to like day 20? Eep!

(And Im in the midst of a huge puddle of tests for school at the moment!)

So, maybe we are somewhat close in cycle days?