I suffer from bipolar mood disorder. I have had drug therapy with Depakote since 1996, and I have suffered no mood swings or any episodes since that time. In 1998 my psychiatrist took me off of all medications, as she felt that I was functional without the Depakote. My question is this: I have had two children by C-sections and a tubal ligation. In vitro fertilization is my only real option of having another child. If I were to take Clomid, how would my psychiatric disorder affect the use of Clomid and my pregnancy? Would Clomid have any affect on my remission?

Angela

While clomiphene can induce mood swings, it does not seem to trigger major psychiatric disorders. Still, I would suggest you discuss your situation with your psychiatrist before proceeding. IVF is stressful enough in its own right. Once you are pregnant, the associated hormonal changes can create dramatic mood swings. You should talk with your psychiatrist about your condition and ability to deal with the stress of fertility treatment, potential failure, pregnancy and caring for a baby. The effect of clomiphene is minimal compared to these other factors.

There are two other questions your situation brings up. One is the effect Depakote may have had on your fertility. Many women who have been on Depakote develop irregular ovulation and experience marked weight gain. If this is the case, you should read about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the iVillageHealth archives and on my website. Also, I never use clomiphene as part of the IVF egg stimulation protocol. If your fertility specialist is planning on using clomiphene as part of the drug regimen for your IVF, I would be sure to get a second opinion from another IVF program.