[DaisyMae08]

I posted this in the Dec. IUI thread, but thought it might be a good idea to start a new thread for those of us dealing with uterine lining issues. I'm certainly hoping to get some good suggestions for you gals on how to deal with this.
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I had my follow up appointment today. If this cycle didn't work, we're changing from Clomid to Letrozole. The nurse practitioner thinks 6-7 follicles is too many, but more importantly my uterine lining is far too thin. It was 3.9 at the time first IUIs and 4.1 at the time of my second IUIs. Not good at all.

I'm praying that the Clomid is the cause of the issue, otherwise she said thin uterine lining is one of the hardest problems to deal with.

On CD3 when I had my antral follicle count and wasn't on any drugs my lining was 4.2 and presumably got thicker as my cycle went on which gives me hope that the Clomid was the cause since 4.2 is higher than either of the measurements I had much later in my cycle after taking the Clomid.

Anyone have experience with uterine lining issues? Is there anything I can do to help it? I go to acupuncture once each week and will mention this at my next appointment. Are there any other things I can do? Vitamins? Supplements? Dietary changes?

Please let it be the Clomid that caused this.
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[wtg4miracle]

I am thinking that I might have this issue also. I am not sure yet but I have a feeling I will have lining issues cause my af is only like 2 days, very light.

I was told to start taking baby aspirin. I am not sure if this helps with lining.

I read somewhere you can be put on estrogen pills or patches. I could be wrong.

I want to know also if there is anything that can be done to increase lining.

I wish I could help but I am concerned about this also.

btw gl for this cycle, 7 follies, that is really good!!

 

[DaisyMae08]

I read something about baby aspirin too. I'd love to hear how others have dealt with this.

The only thing that is giving me hope right now is that 4.2 on CD3 is completely normal, so it's quite possible switching from Clomid to Letrozole could do the trick for me.

So, for those of you that have dealt with this (hopefully with success!) any suggestions?

 

[Pookietooth]

I had a very thin lining on clomid, but it didn't improve on femara. I did have a great lining on follistim, but I still had a m/c. But I'm 42, going on 43.

 

[DaisyMae08]

Follistim. That's good to know; definitely something to keep in mind. I do have time on my side as I'm only 29, which I know helps.

Good luck to you pookietooth. What are you trying now?

 

[poetgirl]

Clomid really does thin out your lining. It did mine and is kind of known for that. Some people do one cycle on/one off for that reason. How is your progesterone? Prog. builds up the lining but I don't know it a doc would prescribe it during the 2ww if yours was fine on its own. I drink a lot of red raspberry leaf tea before ovulation...it tones the uterus and may be helpful for lining (I'll check) and then after O, lots of nettle tea which builds the blood (again could be helpful, I'll see.) Sorry this is a concern.

 

[DaisyMae08]

Since 4.2 on day 3 is normal, I'm trying to be confident in the fact that it was just the Clomid that caused this. The nurse practitioner thinks that's the case.

I actually requested progesterone this time around on the advice of my acupuncturist and so I've been using Crinone since the day after my IUIs. I'm glad she suggested it, although the nurse practitioner said that she doesn't believe in it for that purpose (weird....I actually want to ask the doctor about it) but that it certainly wouldn't hurt.

I emailed my acupunturist yesterday about this and she said that if things don't change with the Letrozole that she can do electroacupuncture. There was a study done about its ability to increase blood flow to the uterus and thereby improve the lining.

I hadn't heard about the raspberry leaf tea. That's certainly easy enough to do and worth a try.

 

[poetgirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaisyMae08 Since 4.2 on day 3 is normal, I'm trying to be confident in the fact that it was just the Clomid that caused this. The nurse practitioner thinks that's the case. I actually requested progesterone this time around on the advice of my acupuncturist and so I've been using Crinone since the day after my IUIs. I'm glad she suggested it, although the nurse practitioner said that she doesn't believe in it for that purpose (weird....I actually want to ask the doctor about it) but that it certainly wouldn't hurt. I emailed my acupunturist yesterday about this and she said that if things don't change with the Letrozole that she can do electroacupuncture. There was a study done about its ability to increase blood flow to the uterus and thereby improve the lining. I hadn't heard about the raspberry leaf tea. That's certainly easy enough to do and worth a try.

It's amazing to me how many opinions there are about progesterone. I had an OB who said prescribing it was not part of her practice and she never would and an RE who insisted on 400 mg/day. My lining always measures better when I'm on it, fwiw.
But yes on all things improving blood flow, esp in winter. Holding gentle yoga hip stretches, acupuncture

If you use the RRL tea (which I think is great) just stop after O. Not recommended for 2ww which is why I switch then to the nettle. I think the RRL does help with blood flow. I

orgasm a lot easier and fuller when I am drinking it. And That never hurts

 

[BellyBean]

Since I don't get monitored I have no idea if my lining is thin, but I figure it is since I have done 4 months of clomid in a row. I started taking baby asprin 2 months ago because I read it would help improve blood flow, which in turn would help with my lining. My doctor didn't say it would help, but she also said it wouldn't hurt!

 

[LisaG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellyBean Since I don't get monitored I have no idea if my lining is thin, but I figure it is since I have done 4 months of clomid in a row. I started taking baby asprin 2 months ago because I read it would help improve blood flow, which in turn would help with my lining. My doctor didn't say it would help, but she also said it wouldn't hurt!

You might want to only use the baby aspirin after you ovulate. I've heard that it can interfere with ovulation and egg maturation. When I was taking it while ttc, I only used it in my post-luteal phase. I also read somewhere that taking it at night is more beneficial than during the day. Can't remember why........

 

[DaisyMae08]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaG You might want to only use the baby aspirin after you ovulate. I've heard that it can interfere with ovulation and egg maturation. When I was taking it while ttc, I only used it in my post-luteal phase. I also read somewhere that taking it at night is more beneficial than during the day. Can't remember why........

I saw the same thing as LisaG about the aspirin interfering with ovulation and egg maturation. I read that it can prevent the egg from releasing (I think). So I'd agree with her, just take it for the LP.

You might also want to ask about an alternative to Clomid. 4 months in a row is a lot. My clinic will only use Clomid for 3 (at most) and then they move on to something else.

 

[FtMPapa]

- Baby aspirin is supposed to help build lining
- Progesterone during the 2ww definitely helped my lining - I took suppositories, and I've never bled so heavily (yet much less painful than my usual cramping) in my life - and I have adenomyosis that contributes to painful and heavy periods.

- RRL tea has helped my cramps, I don't know if it's actually helping my lining, but I've heard nettle tea will.

I've had issues with thin lining in the past, too, no idea now. I was told it was related to Clomid at the time, but I still had a boderline thin lining in non-Clomid cycles. If I remember correctly, they were looking for around 10 mm at IUI, and I was around 8 mm. On the Clomid cycle, it was much, much lower, maybe 5 mm?

 

[DaisyMae08]

FtMPapa, my acupuncturist said the same thing about the progesterone suppositories. She bled a TON after them.

 

[BellyBean]

Thanks everyone, that is really good information! I am glad I made my comment otherwise I would have never known that asprin can cause problems before "O". Looking back I wonder if that is why I have been O'ing around day 17/18? I figured that was as close to "normal" I could get since pre-clomid I would O between 28 and 44.

 

[lissame72]

I'm afraid this might be the thread for me -- I took clomid this month in prep for an IUI and had a lining only 4mm on cd10.

I know clomid can cause thin lining, so I hope that is the culprit, but I just found out that on an unmedicated cycle in October my lining was only 5.7mm on cd10. I have a pretty short AF, usually 2 days of medium flow and then spotting for a day or two, so now I'm wondering if my uterine lining is always too thin and just made worse by the clomid. I had a chemical pregnancy in Feb and have had a couple months where I really thought I had symptoms of pregnancy but AF came anyway - maybe the egg is getting fertilized but not able to implant properly?

I'm so happy to see this thread and appreciate all the info here. I saw my acupuncturist yesterday and she suggested electroacupuncture like DaisyMae's so I am trying that (but can only afford to go every 3 weeks or so). In addition to baby aspirin, I read that L-arginine, an amino acid, can improve blood flow to the uterus. Which is funny because my husband already takes it to support sperm production - I guess it's a bisexual supplement!

 

[wtg4miracle]

I have to ask my RE about starting the baby aspirin. They told me to start taking it right away. I was about to start clomid this cycle but told me I had cysts on my ovary. The nurse told me to take it all the time. I have to check into this about ruining ovulation timing or nurturing. Interesting. It looks like there are so many opinions out there.

 

[BellyBean]

Daisy, I was just wondering if you had any 7dpo progesterone tests done when your lining was thin from the clomid? If so, would you be willing to share the results?

 

[DaisyMae08]

I didn't have any 7dpo blood tests, so I have no idea. But my progesterone levels were always good on cd12 when I went in for u/s and bloodwork. My second month on Clomid I did use Crinone (progesterone gel) but with a cd12 lining of 4.1 I'm sure it was too late.

What's going on with you at this point Bellybean? Are you still using the Clomid? Have you had progesterone levels checked?

This month I took Letrozole instead, and my cd12 lining was 7.11, so MUCH better.

 

[BellyBean]

Hi Daisy! Thanks for responding so quickly!

I have finished 4 months of clomid, my 7dpo progeterone levels have really improved since I started. Before I was under 10, but now I am up over 20. I am not 100% sure what the relation between uterine lining and progesterone levels is, if any.

Thank goodness this is my last month of clomid. I go to an obgyn so there is no monitoring which makes me really nervous...is my lining thin, do I have cysts, ect. I am currently on day 14 so I should O and have my last IUI in the next couple of days (I think Tues/Wed). I am not excited about the 2ww or possibly (more than likely) being disappointed. I am just keeping my eye on the IVF prize!

Wow, 7.11 sounds really good!!!

Where are you at in your cycle? I think last cycle we were pretty close to the same, you might have been a couple days ahead of me. I can't wait to hear how everything turns out for you this time!

 

[DaisyMae08]

I just got back from a follow-up appt. and my progesterone was 29 on cd12 which was right around ovulation time for me this month. Of course that is with Letrozole, not Clomid, so I'm not sure how much that helps.

I am 4 days into the 2ww at this point. My test is on 1/8. I absolutely hate the 2ww limbo.