Cycle 5 (part 1): Clomid + Puregon

This doomed cycle started on 20 July 2014.

Had clomid 50 mg from CD 2 to 6, and Puregon 50 IU from CD 5 to 9.

Went for scan on CD 10 and this was what was seen:

On CD 10, 8 big follicles with the largest 15.3 mm.

So the gynae told me I should not continue with any injections, and no trigger shot because there are too many follicles, but DH and I should continue to BD alternate days until CD 20.

And again no other scans, instructions were: if HPT was positive, contact the clinic to set up appointment; if bfn, then we'll decide if we should do another round.

Clomid (Cycles 1 to 4)

Gynae prescribed clomid (50 mg) to take from CD 2 to 6. Was told to BD on alternate days from CD 10 to 20, but no scans were done during each of the cycles - 2014 January, February, May and June.

The first failed cycle, AF was extremely heavy and cramps were so bad I had difficulty driving. I remember having to attend a workshop and had to sit on the floor, it was so so bad. I woke up from the cramps on the first night.

The second cycle, AF was still extremely heavy, cramps were more manageable in the day time, but again I woke up from the cramps.

The subsequent month I took a break from clomid, but instead of a period I spotted for 8 days. Following month was better.

For all the months, I was meticulous in tracking with OPK and my BBT. Kept a journal to observe the lines and the BBT charts. OPK and BBT were pretty aligned.

After the failed cycle in June, went back to the gynae and she suggested that I add injections to my next attempt. But she said it's not necessary to do IUI as the probability of success is not much higher than natural conception.

Again, in retrospect, I should have voiced out why there was no scanning done during the cycles to determine if I had actually responded to clomid, and whether ovulation actually did take place. But all these only came to me after I switched to NUH later and those came in.

Of course, some private gynaes could be more conscientious.

Sept 2013

As mentioned earlier, we got married in 2009. In 2013, I decided to see another private gynae despite the earlier two who told me there was nothing wrong with me. Because it was time to seek help since I wasn't conceiving.

Upon hearing my history, the gynae said she would do a scan. I thought it was going to be another pelvic US, but it turned out to be a transvaginal scan. The moment she inserted the probe and saw my ovaries, she said "textbook images". She asked me to take a look at the clusters of follicles at the ovaries. This scan was done on CD12.

Did HSG and results were normal, both fallopian tubes are patent.

DH did a SA, and results were "excellent".

In retrospect, gynae didn't ask me to take any blood test.

She prescribed me metformin - which I later found out I wasn't insulin resistant through a blood test. So I was told to stop metformin after taking it for more than a year.

She also asked me to lose some weight. Was 56.4kg during my first visit to her. I lost my first 4kg within the next 3 months, and have maintained the weight loss and currently 49kg. I used to dance when I was younger, until my knee got into such a bad shape I couldn't walk properly, so I stopped exercising completely for a few years. So this was a wake up call to get myself back into a healthy state, am quite thankful that I'm back to having a proper exercise regime with good diets.

early 2000s to 2009

My periods used to be regular when they first started ... about 30 days and typically 7 days long, with the first day heavy spotting, then 2nd and 3rd day heavy, and the blood would taper off for the next few days.

They started going a little irregular in early 2000s when I was in JC. No longer 30 days, they would fluctuate between 3 weeks to 5 weeks. If 3 weeks, period would be lighter; 5 weeks, period much heavier.

In a regular cycle, I would typically require to change a tampon (heavy flow) plus pad every 3 to 4 hours, during days 2 and 3. If it's very heavy, the tampon and pad would be soaked within 2 hours, worst cases about 1. And along with the heavy flow would be cramps.

By 2006, my "periods" would last between 2 to 7 weeks. Time when it was 2 weeks long, I would have 7-day long spotting, instead of a 7-day long period. But the spotting would turn erratic too, and the previously bloody discharge became black sticky discharge. Sometime in 2006, I was spotting continuously for about 3 weeks and there was no sign of it stopping. Went to my GP, who sent me for a BT. Results came back showing that I had low levels of progesterone. She prescribed me some progesterone tablets to stop the spotting, and also referred me to a gynae.

Went to the gynae, did a pelvic US. Conclusion I was normal. If I wanted regular periods, I should start taking contraceptive pills to regulate them.

Started TCM, and it helped. I went to 李睿 (who had a clinic in Bukit Batok) for about 2 years till 2008. Even though it improved my constitution and my periods were finally regular, I wasn't able to continue seeing her - I had to see her twice a week so that she's able to customise my medicine, plus acupuncture. Frankly, the waiting time was usually bearable, about half hour, but the travelling and the regular sessions took a toll on me.

Within a year, in 2009, my periods were irregular again. This time round I went to the polyclinic and obtain another referral to a gynae. Again, did a pelvic US only and concluded that I was normal, and similar to the previous one in 2006, I should start taking contraceptive pills to regulate. Which I didn't heed.