Letrozole questions.

[youngmommy26]

Hello ladies, so I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help me with. Me and DH have been TTC#2 for almost 4 years now. I am having annovulatory cycles and OB wants to put me on Clomid 50mg. But he isn't going to monitor me. I can't afford to pay for monitoring out of pocket and frankly I'm a little afraid to take it unmonitored because of the fear of hyper stimulation. I was reading up about Femara and how most women who take it are fine without u/s monitoring. Plus it has less side effects. Is this true? Had anyone had any success with it? I'm really kind of not wanting clomid now at all because I have no clue how my body will react to it, but I guess it's the same with femara too? I feel trapped because I'm having fertility issues but my insurance won't cover a fertility Dr. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[youngmommy26]

Nobody?

 

[krissie328]

I used clomid unmonitored the first time and got pregnant with my son. In September I tried a round of 5 mg femara. . However I did not ovulate. I plan to start clomid again in February. I just felt it works better for me.

The only side effects I had were hot flashes. I'm pretty sure I had it with both. In February I am going to do days 1 through 12 with black cohosh. I have read several studies that say it helps with the side effects of Clomid and makes it more effective.

Ultimately it is your decision and as with anything there are adverse effects. If you are that concerned I would talk with your doctor and see if they he can help ease your mind or prescribe the femara.

 

[youngmommy26]

I used clomid unmonitored the first time and got pregnant with my son. In September I tried a round of 5 mg femara. . However I did not ovulate. I plan to start clomid again in February. I just felt it works better for me.

The only side effects I had were hot flashes. I'm pretty sure I had it with both. In February I am going to do days 1 through 12 with black cohosh. I have read several studies that say it helps with the side effects of Clomid and makes it more effective.

Ultimately it is your decision and as with anything there are adverse effects. If you are that concerned I would talk with your doctor and see if they he can help ease your mind or prescribe the femara.

Thanks for the response! I might try the low dose of clomid, if I don't like the side effects then I can try femara. I just got really worried because I am so afraid of it overstimulating and causing cysts. But I guess I have that risk with femara too. But the clomid has a risk of thinning out the lining too. Guess I will go have a talk with the Dr and see what he thinks. Thanks again!

 

[krissie328]

Yes, when I was on it the first time I had a scan at 8 weeks pregnant and they said only 1 follicle had been there. (I guess they can see what remains?)

I was on 50 mg on cd 2-6. I plan to do the same this time. I am pretty sure I had lining problems the cycle I used femara. My period was only 3 light days. Not sure what that was about. I'm just guessing people react better to one or the other.

 

[Deeni]

The first time I was on clomid, I had so many follicles that the doctor told me to abstain from DTD. I also slightly hyperstimulated. I decided no more clomid and for the next few months we tried Letrozole which gave me two perfect follicles each time (one on each side). However, it did not help with my BFP. I don't remember any side effects with Letrozole but with clomid, I had major hot flashes. There was another person on here that had triplets using Letrozole and IUI.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Myshelsong]

I was monitored with Femera and the first cycle I did it really didn't do much, so they uped the dosage. I do ovulate on my own and have no ovulation issues.
With Fermera I personally didn't get more than one follicle that reached maturity. The side effects were hot flashes, moodiness, sometimes crazy dreams and some headaches, but not more than that and they were all mild. Except the mood swings. With the second round and higher dose I did ovulate crazy early. Normally I O around 17-21 days on F I ovulated day 11. Again all monitored, so I wasn't temping at all.

Good luck hun

 

[sugarpuff]

I ovulate on my own but in nearly 5 years of ttc (two years for dd1 and nearly three for dd2),I had 44 unmedicated cycles - no pregnancies,
5 cycles of clomid - 1-2 follicles, no pregnancies, lots of horrible side effects,
8 cycles of letrozole - 1-2 follicles, 4 pregnancies, 2 resulted in babies and very few side effects. I blimmin love letrozole. I was on 2.5mg days 2-6 x

 

[PeterPanWendy]

I took Clomid for 3 months without being monitored, so I really don't even know if it ever worked. I did have hot flashes, like the other ladies said. I switched doctors, since mine hadn't done ANY kind of testing at all to see why I wasn't getting pregnant. My new doctor immediately started blood work, tests, etc. and I was diagnosed with PCOS. She also says she prefers Letrozole/Femara to Clomid because it has less side effects and because Clomid can thin the lining of your uterus. My first round was 2.5mg, and I didn't ovulate. I also didn't have any side effects, so we will see if I have any after upping my dose to 5mg this time.

Good luck!

 

[PeterPanWendy]

Myshelsong what mg were you taking when you ovulated early? And what cycle days? My doc always prescribes cd 5-9 but I'm curious as to why people are prescribed 2-6 or 3-7. I tend to o late, so I'm wondering if it might be better to take it earlier.

 

[Myshelsong]

Hey, I had to look back at notes lol.
I started day 3, taking 7.5 mg and ovulated day 11!!
When I did day 3, 5mg I ovulated day 16 so they bumped me up to the next dosage.

Good luck!

 

[PeterPanWendy]

I didn't ovulate at all on the 5mg, so hopefully I will on the 7.5mg. I'm on cd 13 and no sign of it yet, but maybe I will actually ovulate this time. We are bd every other day and I'm taking mucinex so hopefully everything works finally!

 

[Myshelsong]

Are you being monitored to see the size of the follicle growth? This will also tell you with blood work when you are ovulating.

On a side note for good cm have you tried evening primrose? I used it for a few cycles and found it was more helpful than the musinex.
Just a thought!

Good luck Hun.

 

[PeterPanWendy]

No, they aren't monitoring the follicle size. Just the 21 day blood draw.

And no, I haven't tried evening primrose. I'll have to do some research. Do you just take it like a vitamin? I want to start drinking spearmint tea since I read it helps with PCOS, but I can't find it at any of the local stores so I may have to order it. All I can find is peppermint tea.

 

[Faylinameir]

Hey ladies I too am about to start femara for the first time ever. TTC for almost 12 years now and recently diagnosed (although we knew all along) with PCOS. Metformin nearly killed me so that's why we're starting femara. Secretly (like we all do I'm sure) I'm hoping I'm pregnant right now and that I won't have to do this. but waiting on the witch. Metformin really screwed up my cycle so I haven't a clue when to expect her now

This may sound dumb but when do you have intercourse while on femara? My husband doesn't have the best sperm motility but his volume and counts are great. My doctor told me to take is cycle days 3-7 (currently on 5mg) and then to start taking ovulation test kits around day 12. So should we starting bd around day 8 or ? It's funny because I know so much yet I'm paranoid LOL. If I don't O this month I have to have a monitored cycle next month where I get a follicle scan on day 14 (he was very specific about that).

My AMH levels are high so he thinks I should respond very well to treatment.. I hope he's right!

 

[PeterPanWendy]

I have PCOS, too, and I got my BFP this cycle on 5mg (I had the numbers wrong in my previous post - I took 2.5mg the first cycle and 5mg this cycle). But anyhow, I took 5mg on CD 5-9 and then hubby and I dtd on CD 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. I OV'd on CD 14 and this is my first time ever being pregnant and we've been trying for about a year and a half. My OBGYN told us to do it every other day (so the sperm can replenish) and that Femara is more likely to have you OV on CD 14 (unlike Clomid which can make you OV later). Good luck!

 

[Faylinameir]

I have PCOS, too, and I got my BFP this cycle on 5mg (I had the numbers wrong in my previous post - I took 2.5mg the first cycle and 5mg this cycle). But anyhow, I took 5mg on CD 5-9 and then hubby and I dtd on CD 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. I OV'd on CD 14 and this is my first time ever being pregnant and we've been trying for about a year and a half. My OBGYN told us to do it every other day (so the sperm can replenish) and that Femara is more likely to have you OV on CD 14 (unlike Clomid which can make you OV later). Good luck!

YAY! So happy for you! I hope you have a healthy pregnancy

 

[Myshelsong]

I ovulated on day 11 when I was on femara so I would start early!