Advice & Tips for Getting Pregnant on Clomid

In search of essential tips for getting pregnant on Clomid? We got you! We're looking at how this fertility drug works, how long it takes, and what you can do to improve your chances.

If you're trying to conceive and it’s taking longer than expected (we know — the struggle is real), your doctor might recommend something called Clomid.

If so, you're probably curious about what exactly it is, how it works, and how to maximize your chances of getting pregnant.

To help, here are our essential tips for getting pregnant on Clomid, as well as advice on what to do (and avoid) while taking it.

In this article: 📝

What does Clomid do?

Clomid is a popular fertility drug that's often one of the first fertility treatments people try. [1]

It’s often prescribed in cases of irregular or anovulatory cycles and PCOS.

Clomid for women essentially works by stimulating ovulation.

Clomid is usually prescribed alongside sex or artificial insemination to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

How many rounds of Clomid does it take to get pregnant?

If your doctor thinks it's right for you, they'll typically start with a dose of around 50mg daily for the first round (of around five days).

It's relatively rare, but you might get pregnant after just one round of Clomid (a "round" consists of one menstrual cycle).

In general, there's an 11.5% chance (for women under 37) you'll get pregnant each cycle. [2]

It's different for each healthcare provider, but most recommend up to four (and sometimes six) rounds of treatment.

They might up the dose of Clomid each cycle, however, increasing the dose higher than 100mg is not recommended. [3]

If you've been taking Clomid for six months and haven't gotten pregnant, your doctor will probably recommend exploring other fertility treatment options.

How successful is the first round of Clomid?

Does Clomid work immediately? 🤞🤞🤞

In short, no.

Most people need at least a few rounds before getting pregnant.

While doctors typically start you out at the lowest dosage (50mg daily), this may not be effective for everyone.

So don’t worry if you don’t see immediate results.

This is totally normal and doesn’t mean Clomid won’t work at all—it might just not be working for you at this dose or cycle.

Your doctor will let you know if they need to up the dosage each month.

How soon do you get pregnant on Clomid?

As a popular and proven fertility drug, Clomid has some pretty positive success rates.

For women with unexplained infertility, Clomid offers an 80% chance of ovulation within the first few months of medication. [4]

Of course, it's not just about ovulating for its own sake though.

Pregnancy rates from the drug are around 33%. [5]

Your timeline will look different depending on your age, overall health, the reasons for being prescribed a fertility drug, and, well, loads of other factors.

So take each round as it comes, and know that it’s completely normal for it to take some time to work.

Tips for getting pregnant on clomid

Lots of people ask about things to do or avoid while taking Clomid.

Before diving into what not to do, let's start with the positive steps you can take.

Essentially, the tips for getting pregnant on Clomid are the same for getting pregnant in general:

Eat healthily

Researchers from Harvard Medical School found that diet had a positive impact on fertility. [6]

Specifically, you want to aim for nutrients and vitamins like folic acid, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids.

The Mediterranean diet, in particular, stands out as one that ticks all the nutritional boxes.

These types of diets even help improve semen quality, so definitely, something you and your partner can explore together.

Unsurprisingly, diets rich in trans fat, sodas, processed or red meats, and sweets had a negative effect.

Avoid alcohol and smoking

No surprise that smoking has a big impact on your chances of getting pregnant.

Smoking has been linked to early menopause and negatively impacts women’s ovarian reserve. [7,8]

As for men, smoking is known to reduce semen quality and semen count, not to mention cause impotence.

All very counter-intuitive to getting pregnant.

Meanwhile, drinking alcohol has also been shown to decrease the chances of conception in a menstrual cycle. [9]

Get plenty of rest and relaxation

Reducing stress is on almost every list when it comes to fertility and pregnancy.

And for good reason.

If you’re chronically stressed, the last thing your body will want to do is conceive and the last thing you’ll want to do is have sex.

Not to mention high levels of cortisol can tip the hormonal balance in women, reducing estrogen and impacting reproductive health. [10]

Of course, the longer it takes to get pregnant, the more stressed or anxious you may feel. 😫

All the more reason to introduce mindful practices like meditation, scheduling “me time”, or taking a break from screens and stressors. 🧘‍♀️

Have regular sex

The things you have to do…

Having frequent sex is the best way to get pregnant – we’re talking at least two to three times throughout the month.

It's also best to have sex (or IUI treatment) when you're at your most fertile.

This is usually a few days just before ovulation.

The exact timings will differ from person to person, but you're most likely to ovulate around days fourteen to nineteen of your monthly cycle.

And there are apps and ovulation predictor tests to help you track this.

Sexy, right?

Hey, even for the most intimately connected couples, sex when TTC can start to feel like a chore.

Luckily there’s plenty of sex positions, you can play with to keep things interesting. 🍆

What should I not do while on Clomid?

The things to avoid while taking Clomid are also pretty much the same as "regular" things to avoid when trying to get pregnant.

Avoid overly strenuous exercise regimes (gentle is best).

Try not to gain (or lose) lots of weight.

And it might be time to ditch those highly caffeinated drinks.

Clomid doesn't necessarily work for everyone, though, and you might find you simply don't respond to treatment.

This doesn't mean you can't get pregnant; it might just mean Clomid isn't for you.

It's called "Clomid resistance" and is often caused by things you can't control like hyperprolactinemia (excess levels of the hormone prolactin) or PCOS (that's polycystic ovary syndrome). [11]

There are treatment options for these conditions, so have a chat with your doctor if things don't seem to be working out.

What are the signs that Clomid is working?

Really, the only way of telling whether Clomid is working is whether you ovulate or not.

You might notice things like ovulation pain (known as mittelschmerz) or changes to your discharge (which becomes wetter and clearer around ovulation).

But your healthcare provider will help you assess this with things like ultrasounds and blood tests.

If you don’t ovulate, that "round" of Clomid hasn't worked.

But this doesn't mean it won't work next time.

We know.

This is hard.

But try not to lose hope.

You’ve got this, and the Peanut Community is with you every step of the way.