QuestionI am on my second cycle of Clomid 100mg with Ovidrel
trigger. When I went in for my CD 14 ultrasound my RE found
8 mature follicles. She had told me, before we knew there
were that many, to have intercourse, which we did on CD 12
and 13. When she found out how many follies there were she
told me not to take the trigger, but she warned me that I
might ovulate anyway. Sure enough, the next day I ovulated
as shown by a clear temperature shift on my BBT chart. My
temps are still high at 8 DPO and I'm wondering if I do
conceive what are the chances of having high-order
multiples? I took a HPT this morning and thought I saw a
faint line, but I'm not sure...Also, I am writing from
Colorado.
AnswerHello Rebecca from the U.S.,
I'm afraid that I cannot give you a specific statistic as to your chances of a super-multiple pregnancy (>2#. Overall, the chances of twins with Clomid is 12% if three eggs are ovulated. If 8 eggs are ovulated then of course the chances of 3 or more would significantly increase. The HCG trigger is not absolutely necessary to induce ovulation in a clomid or natural cycle #your RE should know that). Often the body will mount an LH surge on its own. The HCG trigger is just to make sure that ovulation is triggered.
I am also surprised that your RE did not do another ultrasound to see how many follicles actually ovulated. Just because a follicle reaches ovulatory size does not necessarily mean that it will ovulate.
Finally, shame on your RE for allowing you to have more than 3 ovulatory sized follicles. That is how higher order multiples occurs and RE's are supposed to be more conscientious about not letting that happen!
Good Luck,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf
