Letrozole vs Clomid

Fredifer1115

Anyone have any personal experiences, or information otherwise?  Just had my 2nd failed IUI on clomid.  I have heard that Letrozole has been beneficial for women with higher FSH.  I am wondering if I should try it.

Austrogermokee

I did two cycles of letrozole and TI. The first cycle I had migraines and a bit of wooziness, and wound up cysting out instead of ovulating. The second I also had migraines, and fatigue, but wound up ovulating. Both cycles I also felt listless and somewhat depressed (I'm very sensitive to hormone shifts). I did CD10 US both times, and there didn't seem to be that much difference between what the letrozole did and what I did naturally.

When we get back on TTC, I want to talk with my RE about the benefits and drawbacks of both, and if the dosage I have is high enough. My RE prefers letrozole because it doesn't thin the uterine lining like Clomid can do.

MARISAV77

Sorry @Fredifer1115‌ about the failed 2nd attempt! I think we had IUI #1 done on the same day too! Got benched for #2 because I ovulated on my own before going in for my follicular US, and of course doing it the natural way turned into a BFN for me too! I did 4 attempts with Clomid and TI before switching to Letrozole and IUI. I didn't have any side effects from Letrozole and I was taking 7.5mg CD 3-7. This second round of Letrozole did make me ovulate earlier than I'm used to. I normally go in on CD13 for my US and trigger that day, but this time I should have went in on CD11. I asked my RE to switch me to Letrozole to prevent my lining from getting too thin (fortunately I've had no issues with that from the clomid) FX for both us that our next IUI attempt will turn into a BFP!

Fredifer1115

@marisav77 Thanks for the input.  It's good to know it resulted in an earlier O for you.  My last two cycles I was triggered at day 16 and 19.  I think I rushed the 16 one, also, to avoid having to go in for a 3rd US.  There's only so much poking and prodding I can take (I write this as my FIXED cat is humping my legs...so gross lol).  As if AF isn't annoying enough, she always comes on Fridays and my local RE is closed on weekends, meaning I have to travel into the city, one hour by bus, by 9am on one of my 2 days off for 3 day bloods and additional US to time IUI.  I want to try the letrozole just to see.  My RE said we can keep trying IUI, and if there happens to be a cycle where I produce 3+ follicles we can go right to retrieval for IVF.  He said not worth shooting myself up with all the IVF prep drugs for only 2 follicles, which is what he thinks would happen with my FSH.  I think if we have 2 more unsuccessful IUIs I am going to ask to try IVF anyhow.

What are you doing this cycle?

MARISAV77

Fredifer1115 said:

@marisav77 Thanks for the input.  It's good to know it resulted in an earlier O for you.  My last two cycles I was triggered at day 16 and 19.  I think I rushed the 16 one, also, to avoid having to go in for a 3rd US.  There's only so much poking and prodding I can take (I write this as my FIXED cat is humping my legs...so gross lol).  As if AF isn't annoying enough, she always comes on Fridays and my local RE is closed on weekends, meaning I have to travel into the city, one hour by bus, by 9am on one of my 2 days off for 3 day bloods and additional US to time IUI.  I want to try the letrozole just to see.  My RE said we can keep trying IUI, and if there happens to be a cycle where I produce 3+ follicles we can go right to retrieval for IVF.  He said not worth shooting myself up with all the IVF prep drugs for only 2 follicles, which is what he thinks would happen with my FSH.  I think if we have 2 more unsuccessful IUIs I am going to ask to try IVF anyhow.

What are you doing this cycle?

This cycle I am hoping to get in IUI#2 in before leaving for hawaii on sept 1st! I'm going in for an US on CD11, which will be the 29th, hopefully will have mature follies, trigger that night and go in for IUI on the 31st. My luck, I will have a normal cycle (and not a fluke like last month and ovulate earlier) and won't have any mature follicles yet by CD11 and won't be able to do IUI. I don't normally do OPKs, since I go in for US, but this cycle I will do them just in case if we have to try the old fashion way while we are in Hawaii! We are going for our one year anniversary, since we were too broke after the wedding to go on a honeymoon. Maybe this will be a good luck month for us!  

Fredifer1115

I wish you the very best luck!  My one year is coming up too, October 19th.  We are too broke now to go on vacation lol.  

So I got a new monkey wrench, this one may take the cake (and typically I love cake, but I am not happy about this sh*t at all).  Just got notification on Wednesday that my company is changing insurance to, you guessed it, a carrier that my RE doesn't accept.  AWESOME.  However, the new plan offers the same benefits, BUT I would have to find another doctor, UNLESS new carrier deems me eligible to receive continuity of care for 90 days after the effective date.  Oh, and the effective date is OCTOBER 1st.  Way to give us fair warning.  And the information seminar about the policies and such is not until September 8th.  So had I not done all this legwork myself, calling current carrier, new carrier, HR and the RE I wouldn't know anything pertinent for another week and a half, which as we know is the difference between a cycle and being benched for a month.  

I currently get $10000 lifetime for IVF, which I will get under the new plan as well, but I want to get the benefit with my current plan, and let the benefits reset under the new plan, but with only 5 weeks, being on CD9 right now, I have no idea how to make that happen.  I am going to see the RE on Monday (we are doing natural cycle and timed intercourse this month bc of a stupid cyst).  RE said he has no problem putting me on the IVF calendar for next month, but I just have to see how they work billing.  If any portion of the bill is submitted after October 1st it goes against my new insurance, AND could even be denied because it is out of network unless approved.  I am so fkng annoyed.  I am going to post about this to see if anyone can offer suggestion or advice.