Clomid's Side Effects

Before beginning a course of infertility treatment with Clomid, it's very important to know about all of the possible side effects and complications. In addition, you should know what preventative measures you can take to counteract these side effects, and what preparation you should make during your months on Clomid.

The List of Possible Side Effects with Clomid

There are a number of side effects that people do experience with Clomid. It is certainly important when looking at this list, however, to remember that not everyone has each of these side effects, and that some people don't have any at all. Up to 13% of women experience an enlargement of the ovaries. 10% have hot flashes and about 5% have abdominal pain or bloating. Up to 2% experience nausea or vomiting. Up to 2% have breast pain and about 1% have headaches and migraines.

Vaginal Dryness with Clomid

Vaginal dryness, although discussed a lot in chat rooms, is really quite rare. Vaginal dryness was reported in less than 1% of people taking Clomid. For women who do experience vaginal dryness, it can become quite a problem when trying to get pregnant. Most over-the-counter lubricants that you might purchase to counteract the problem are actually detrimental when trying to get pregnant. There are, however, some new lubricants that can be used to help vaginal dryness that do not inhibit your chance of getting pregnant. One such product is called Pre-Seed. It is designed, as are other products like it, to safely emulate the natural bodily fluid and to help provide transportation for the sperm. Ask your doctor about this product, and see if the doctor has other suggestions as well.

Migraines

Headaches, including migraines, have been reported in up to 1.3 % of women taking Clomid. The studies that have evaluated headaches did not differentiate between migraine headaches and other types of headaches. It is also not known, at this time, whether the headaches are more prevalent in women who already have a pre-disposition to getting headaches or migraines. If you are worried about headaches, you can certainly discuss this issue with your doctor before starting Clomid and have medication ready in the event that headaches should occur.  You can also discuss your dosage with your medical professional once you're on Clomid.

Clomid and Weight Gain

Weight gain was only found to be a side effect of Clomid in less than 1% of the women studied. Weight loss was also found to occur rarely. The studies that found these correlations did not, however, isolate that the weight gain or loss was due entirely to the use of Clomid. If you are worried about these side effects, you can certainly speak with your health care professional before starting Clomid and can alter your diet accordingly.

Pay close attention to how you are feeling while taking Clomid. Should you experience any of these side effects, or others, speak to your doctor and seek out the help that you need to be comfortable. You should know, however, that if you do experience these symptoms, they are perfectly normal. In addition, keep in mind that any symptoms will disappear when you stop taking Clomid. Hopefully, by that time you'll have morning sickness and a whole new set of exciting side effects!