My daughter has polycystic ovaries. She had no periods. She was put on Clomid by her consultant and became pregnant after 18 months on the drug. She recently gave birth to a full-term baby, but sadly the baby died after 40 minutes. Indications are that the baby suffered ventricular septal defect. There are no heart problems on either side of the family. Could this be a result of taking Clomid, and could this have been detectable through any scans? Obviously she is worried that this could happen again. What are the chances of that? Should she go back onto Clomid, which seems to be her only chance of becoming pregnant? Any information you can provide would obviously help a great deal.

Sarah

It is unlikely that clomiphene played any role in the congenital heart defect experienced here. Most of these defects are multifactorial in origin. That means that many factors seem to be involved. The recurrence risks usually quoted for such conditions is generally 5 percent, but I think it is important for your daughter to meet with a genetic counselor to determine the specific recurrence risk she may experience.

As such, I do not feel there is a reason to avoid clomiphene. However, I strongly believe that if one does not conceive after three to four months of therapy, alternative therapeutic options should be considered. Please see the articles on my website to learn more on use of clomiphene and alternatives for treating PCOS.