Your Clomid (clomiphene) cycles may have a greater chance of succeeding if you have a decent level of vitamin D in your body according to a 2012 study on women with PCOS. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with IVF failure in a number of studies and it has been speculated that vitamin D helps the endometrium to become more receptive to an implanting embryo.

In this study, ninety-one anovulatory women with PCOS underwent clomiphene cycles and pregnancy rates were correlated with vitamin D levels. Adequate vitamin D levels were linked both with an increased likelihood of producing a follicle and with pregnancy, the study concluded that:

"25OHD3 (vitamin D) deficiency was an independent predictive parameter of CC (clomiphene) stimulation outcome, in terms of follicle development and pregnancy."

"Our results suggest a substantial role of vitamin D in PCOS and infertility treatment in these patients."

Prior studies have found that women with PCOS may have a tendency towards having lower vitamin D levels so before you undergo clomiphene treatment, it may be wise to ask your physician to test your vitamin D levels with a 25OHD test. If your levels are low, taking an appropriate level of vitamin D daily may increase the likelihood that you will ovulate and conceive successfully, especially if you have PCOS.

Vitamin D deficiency is especially prevalent in the Fall and Winter months in northern latitudes because the wavelength of sunlight during Fall/Winter/early Spring is not able to stimulate vitamin D synthesis in the skin, even on bright sunny days.

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Eur J Endocrinol. 2012 May;166(5):897-902. doi: 10.1530/EJE-11-1070. Epub 2012 Feb 13.
Parameters for calcium metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome who undergo clomiphene citrate stimulation: a prospective cohort study.
Ott J, Wattar L, Kurz C, Seemann R, Huber JC, Mayerhofer K, Vytiska-Binstorfer E.