Is there a time limit on how long a woman should stay on Clomid without conception? I took Clomid for 17 months before becoming pregnant for the first time. Now I am on Clomid again working on my second pregnancy. So far I have only taken three rounds of Clomid.

Jennifer

I would recommend three to four months at most. Studies have shown that up to 85 percent of the successful conceptions on Clomid occur within three months, with half of those in the first month! After five cycles, 99 percent of those who are going to "get lucky" will have done so.

I feel that use beyond four months usually indicates that the physician has limited knowledge and experience successfully managing ovulatory problems with the latest, most cost-effective options. For more information on proper Clomid use, see my earlier column Care During Clomid Use.